This month, the Samira Buhari Mentorship Programme welcomed forty new mentees into its latest cohort — a group of young Nigerian women drawn from across the country and working across sectors as varied as agriculture, fashion, tech, and financial services.
Over the coming months, each mentee will work one-on-one with a matched mentor, attend practical workshops, and build the foundations of a business or career that can last long beyond the programme itself.
What the first weeks look like
The programme opens with a matching phase. Mentors and mentees are introduced through a guided process designed to align on goals, working styles, and expectations. From there, mentees step into a structured cycle of workshops, mentorship sessions, and peer learning.
Training spans the practical and the personal — from business planning and financial management to digital literacy and ethical leadership. Every session is designed to be applied immediately, not filed away for later.
"The first month isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions."
For many mentees, the value of the cohort comes as much from the peers beside them as from the mentors in front of them. The programme intentionally builds a community where founders can compare notes, share opportunities, and hold each other accountable.
Grant funding on the horizon
Later in the cycle, top-performing mentees will be considered for grant funding — up to ₦10,000,000 available across the cohort, alongside training and continued support. The funding is designed to help founders move from an idea to a functioning, revenue-generating business.
The selection process looks at demonstrated progress, the quality of the business model, and the mentee's alignment with ethical, community-focused leadership — the same principles that have guided the programme since its founding.
Looking ahead
By the end of this cycle, the programme aims to have supported each mentee through a meaningful shift — whether that's launching a business, formalising operations, or stepping into a leadership role with confidence.
Applications for the next cohort will open soon. If you're a young Nigerian woman between 18 and 30 with a passion for entrepreneurship or leadership, we'd love to hear from you.
