Facebook has launched a ₦500 million grant to support 781 small businesses (SMBs) in Nigeria facing challenges as a result of the global outbreak of COVID-19. The grant aims at empowering entrepreneurs and business owners affected during this challenging time.

This is part of Facebook $100m Global small business Grants Programme announced earlier this year, which aims to support 30,000 SMBs in over 30 countries. The grants program is a part of Facebook’s overall commitment to invest $100 million this year in the Black community.

The grants and application process will be administered and managed by Deloitte in partnership with FATE Foundation and Afrigrants. The grant provided is a combination of cash and advertising credits to be used on Facebook platforms to help small businesses as they rebuild and recover their business operations since the pandemic started.

Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Facebook Africa said “We know small businesses are the engine of the Nigerian economy, the COVID-19 pandemic has extended beyond a public health crisis to an economic emergency, with these small businesses most affected.

He further said “We’re listening to the challenges these small business owners are facing right now and want to provide useful resources for them during this difficult and uncertain year”

Why you should apply?

The grant keeps your workforce going strong
It helps with rent and operational costs
Connect with more customers
Support your community
Access to free webinars and online resources which cover a range of topics from how to take your business online, build resilience, stay connected with customers and adapt in real time.

Eligible businesses

To be eligible to apply, your business must:

Be a for-profit business
Have between 2 and 50 employees
Have been in business for over a year
Have experienced challenges due to COVID-19
Be in or near a location where Facebook operates ( All locations in Nigeria are eligible.)
Plan to use the grant funds to support the business and community
Note: You cannot apply on behalf of your business if you are a current government official or relative of a government official. You will be asked to confirm you are not a government official as part of the application form.

Documents needed for application

The latest annual return of your business
Your business registration document ( CAC documents)
Business license or partnership agreement
2019 financial statement of account for your your business.
Note: Documents should be uploaded in pdf format. You may be asked to provide further documents at a later stage in the process.

Applications will be open from 24th August 2020 for the North East, North West and South East regions and 26th August 2020 for the South West, South-South and North Central regions

Application deadline: 5pm on 4th September 2020.

How to apply?


Read more: www.yinksmedia.com/how-to-apply-for-facebook-%e2%82%a6500m-grants-for-781-small-businesses-in-nigeria/