CBN Ties Grant 2024 – Still Ongoing

CBN Ties Grant 2024 with the website cbnties.com.ng is a youth empowerment program initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria to help foster the nation’s economic growth and sustainable development.

The only official website to apply is https://cbnties.com.ng/register

The Central Bank of Nigeria, as part of its policy measures to address rising youth unemployment and underemployment, developed the Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES), in partnership with Nigerian polytechnics and universities to harness the potential of graduate entrepreneurs (gradpreneurs) in Nigeria.

What are the CBN Ties?

The CBN Ties is designed to create a paradigm shift among undergraduates and graduates from the pursuit of white-collar jobs to a culture of entrepreneurship development for economic development and job creation.

The Scheme thus aims to provide an innovative financing model that will create jobs, enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem and support economic growth and development.

Objectives of the Central Bank of Nigeria Tertiary Institute Scheme (CBN Ties)

The broad objective of the Scheme is to enhance access to finance by undergraduates and graduates of polytechnics and universities in Nigeria with innovative entrepreneurial and technological ideas. Other specific objectives of the Scheme include:

Provide an enabling environment for co-creation, mentorship and development of entrepreneurial and technological innovations for value creation in partnership with Nigerian polytechnics and universities for the purpose of economic development and job creation;

1. Fast-track ideation, creation and acceleration of a culture of innovation-driven entrepreneurship skills among graduates of polytechnics and universities in Nigeria;
2. Promote gender balance in entrepreneurship development through capacity development and improved access to finance;
3. Leapfrog entrepreneurial capacity of undergraduates and graduates for entrepreneurship and economic development in partnership with academia and industry practitioners; and
4. Boost the contribution of the non-oil sector to the nation’s GDP.

Eligible Industries that can apply for the CBN Ties Grant 2024

Activities to be covered under the Scheme shall include innovative start-ups and existing businesses owned by graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities in the following areas:

1. Agribusiness – production, processing, storage and logistics;
2. Information technology – application/software development, business process outsourcing, robotics, data management;
3. Creative industry – entertainment, artwork, publishing, culinary/event management, fashion, photography, beauty/cosmetics;
4. Science and technology – medical innovation, robotics, ticketing systems, traffic systems, renewable energy, waste management; and
5. Any other activity as may be determined by the CBN from time to time.

How to Apply for Ties CBN Grant 2024

• To apply for the CBNTies Application, kindly visit the official website via https://cbnties.com.ng
• Click on the “APPLY NOW” Button
• Click on “Proceed”
• Ensure you use a valid and working email address
• Once you are done filling out the form kindly submit it and wait for approval mail

Note: Priority will be given to innovative entrepreneurial activities with high potential for export, job creation and transformational impact.

Trading activities shall not be eligible for financing under the Scheme.

CBN Ties Loan or Grant Application?

The CBN Ties opportunity is a grant and also a loan respectively, this simply means, if you fall into the category of the grant, you will not pay back the fund given to you. However, if you fall into the loan category scheme, you are going to pay back the money with minimal or no interest after being successful in the application process.

The take-off capital will be sourced from both the Agribusiness / Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS) and the Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Fund (MSMEDF).

CBN Ties Loan Application types

The Scheme shall be implemented through three (3) application types:

• Term Loan Component;
• Equity Investment Component; and
• Developmental Component

Term Loan Component

Graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities shall be eligible to participate under the Term Loan Component, which shall be implemented as detailed below:

Eligibility Criteria for Participation

Applicants under the Scheme shall be graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities with:

1. First-degree certificate (BSc/HND/ or its equivalent);
2. National Youth Service Certificate (NYSC) discharge or exemption certificate;
3. Certificate of Participation issued by polytechnics and universities evidencing entrepreneurship training; and
4. Not more than 7 years post-NYSC.

Repayment

Interest payment and principal repayment shall be made on a monthly or quarterly basis by the obligor depending on the established cash flow cycle and in line with the approved repayment schedule.

Participating Financial Institutions

The PFIs under this Scheme shall be deposit money banks (DMBs) and other financial institutions as may be approved by the CBN.

Other Features of the CBN Ties Loan 2024

• The focus shall be on both start-up and existing projects in a ratio of 40:60, respectively.
• To promote gender equality, 50 per cent of the Term Loan Component of the Scheme shall be earmarked for female-led or –owned projects.
• Facilities accessed under the Term Loan Component shall be revolving, as upon full repayment, beneficiaries shall be eligible to apply for additional and or increased funding to ensure the sustainability of financing support to projects.
• The facility shall be disbursed in tranches and subject to approved terms and milestones.
• The tenor of projects financed under the Scheme shall be determined in relation to its cash flow and the life of the underlying collateral.
• All movable assets financed under the Scheme or used as collateral
• to secure the loan shall be registered with the National Collateral Registry (NCR).
• Risk sharing (including recoveries) shall be in a ratio of 80:20 between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the PFI for the amount in default after all recoveries have been made.
• In the event of three (3) consecutive monthly repayment defaults by any beneficiary, the CBN and PFI shall review the repayment schedule with the beneficiary with a recovery notification issued to that effect.
• Beneficiaries of other CBN interventions shall be eligible to participate under the Scheme upon the full repayment of the amount outstanding under the other earlier accessed intervention facility.
• This facility could be used for the refinancing of existing projects subject to Management’s special approval.

Equity Investment Component

The Equity Investment Component shall be in the form of injection of fresh capital for start-ups, expansion of established businesses or reviving of ailing entrepreneurial businesses. The Component shall be implemented under the AgSMEIS Equity window.

Investment Limit

The investment limit shall be subject to the limit prescribed in the AgSMEIS Guidelines.

Investment Period

This shall be as follows:

• The investment made shall be for a maximum period of ten (10) years (not exceeding December 31, 2031).
• There shall be a 3-year lock-in period before exiting in order to encourage value creation and boost the managerial capacity of the business.

Investment Period

• The Bankers’ Committee Trust shall hold the equity on behalf of the
• AgSMEIS Fund.
• The equity investments shall be in enterprises operating within the eligible focal areas.

Developmental Component

The Developmental Component shall be disbursed in the form of grants to Nigerian polytechnics and universities after participating and coming top in a national biennial entrepreneurship competition.

The competition is aimed at raising awareness and visibility of high-impact entrepreneurial/technological ideas among undergraduates, promoting entrepreneurial talent hunts in Nigerian polytechnics and universities, as well as encouraging innovations that are commercially viable and with a transformational impact.

The Developmental Component shall also be utilized for the general development of the MSME segment in the following areas:

• Finance the development of award-winning innovative entrepreneurial/technological ideas;
• Research and development of high-impact technological innovations and projects; and
• Support the development of financial infrastructure to facilitate entrepreneurship in Nigerian polytechnics and universities.

CBN Grant for Undertgradaute

The CBN Grant for Undergraduates is as stated below

Five (5) top Nigerian polytechnics and universities with the best entrepreneurial pitches/ideas shall be awarded as follows:

The CBN Ties grants shall be in the following areas:

• Agribusiness;
• Information technology;
• Creative industry; and
• Science and technology.

The Bank shall constitute a Body of Experts (BoE) from the private and public sectors for the biennial regional and national entrepreneurship competitions to evaluate entrepreneurial and technological innovations submitted by Nigerian polytechnics and universities. The Body of Experts (BoE) shall recommend projects with high potential and transformational impact for the grant award.

The composition of the BoE shall be as detailed below:

1. Four (4) representatives from the Bankers’ Committee;
2. One (1) representative from consulting industry;
3. One (1) nominee from SMEDAN;
4. One (1) nominee from the NUC;
5. One (1) nominee from the NBTE; and
6. One (1) nominee from the CBN (Secretary).

Participation under the Developmental Component shall be restricted to undergraduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities.

The Chair of the BoE shall be appointed by the CBN from the Banker’s Committee.

Transaction Dynamics

Term Loans

i.Prospective applicants shall attend mandatory entrepreneurship training with their respective Nigerian polytechnics and universities and certificates of completion issued to trainees;

Applications shall be submitted on a dedicated online portal, with copies of relevant documents attached for review, which shall include:

a. First-degree certificate (BSc/HND/or its equivalent);

b.National Youth Service Certificate (NYSC) discharge or exemption certificate;

c.Certificate of Participation issued by polytechnics and universities evidencing entrepreneurship training;

d.Letter confirming the applicants’ deposit of required certificates from PFI;

e.Projected Statement of Income, Statement of Affairs, and cash flow projections for start-ups and businesses with less than 3 years of operations;

f.Business plan outlining details, financials and economic benefits of the projects.

iii. Submitted applications and certificates shall be transmitted directly to the PFI for evaluation and documentation;

iv. The Portal shall be designed to allow the applicants to select its PFI of choice, which shall receive copies of the submitted applications for due diligence checks and subsequent disbursement and monitoring of financed projects;

v.The PFI shall provide to the applicants and forward to the CBN, the following documents:

a.Copies of duly executed offer documents between the bank and the loan applicants;

b.At least one (1) Credit Report of the promoter/entrepreneur;

c.Duly signed Global Standing Instruction (GSI); and

d.Proposed schedule of fund disbursement and repayment;

vi. The PFI shall issue a letter confirming the applicants’ deposit of requisite certificates with it;

vii. Upon approval of the application by the CBN, the approved sum shall be released to the applicants’ accounts with any PFIs of their choice in accordance with the approved disbursement schedule;

viii. The PFI shall disburse the released funds into the applicants’ accounts within five (5) working days with no restriction on access, upon compliance with the terms for withdrawal; and

ix.The PFI shall register all financed equipment with the National Collateral Registry (NCR).

Stakeholders and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the stakeholders shall include:

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

The Central Bank of Nigeria shall:

• Articulate clear Guidelines for the implementation of the Scheme;
• Partner with the private sector and Nigerian polytechnics and universities in the development of the online application portal, constituting the BoE and organising the national entrepreneurship contest;
• Approve and disburse loan requests to successful beneficiaries through their PFIs;
• Carry out verification and monitor projects financed;
• Conduct project impact assessment in conjunction with the Monitoring Team and other relevant stakeholders;
• Sensitize stakeholders and the general public on the activities of the Scheme;
• Facilitate meetings of the BoE; and
• Review the Guidelines from time to time

Participating in Polytechnics and Universities

Participating polytechnics and universities shall :

• Develop a curriculum or programme for the training or retraining of graduates in entrepreneurship development;
• Issue certificates of completion to its graduates evidencing participation in the entrepreneurship development training programmes;
• Authenticate applicants’ first-degree certificates;
• Develop a recourse platform for registering, digitization and offboarding of submitted certificates under the Scheme;
• Create a central platform for digitizing submitted certificates and provide a feedback loop with PFIs on collateralised certificates;
• Provide ideation, creation and acceleration hubs for undergraduates to actualise their entrepreneurial ideas;
• Present entrepreneurial projects for participation in the regional and national contests under the Grant Component;
• Carry out all relevant due diligence and plagiarism checks on all entrepreneurship projects presented for the regional and national contests;
• Forward list of all trained and certified graduates on entrepreneurship to the CBN;
• Facilitate the actualisation/implementation of the winning projects within the community it was projected to be implemented;
• Render periodic status reports on the winning projects as may be specified by the CBN from time to time; and
• Provide awareness and training sessions for undergraduates on entrepreneurship development.

Participating Finance Institutions

The PFIs shall :

• Participate in the development of the online application portal to facilitate the submission of applications by prospective beneficiaries for the term loan;
• Carry out all relevant due diligence on the applicant and submit certificates under the term loan component of the Scheme;
• The PFI shall remit interests and principal repayments received to the Scheme on a quarterly basis.
• Provide at least one credit report on the promoter(s) for all projects;
• Issue a letter evidencing the candidate’s submission of the requisite certificates with the PFI;
• Forward verified and approved applications to the CBN for further processing and approval;
• Disburse released funds to beneficiaries’ accounts within 5 working days of receipt;
• In line with 8.3(vii), return undisbursed funds to the CBN after a period of 14 working days of receipt of the funds;
• Remit monthly or quarterly interest and principal repayments to the CBN within 5 working days of the subsequent month depending on the approved repayment schedule;
• Register all movable assets accepted or financed as collaterals for the loan with the National Collateral Registry (NCR);
• Monitor all projects financed under the Scheme during the loan period;
• Render periodic returns as may be specified by the CBN from time to time;
• Discharge all movable collaterals used to securitize the loan on the National Collateral Registry within one month of repayment, and notify the customer accordingly; and
• Comply with the Guidelines of the Programme.

The CBN Ties grant 2023 Beneficiary

The beneficiary shall:

1. Apply on the dedicated online portal and provide all requisite documentation to support the application;
2. Present for verification original copies of submitted certificates and documents;
3. Submit business proposal and other documentation requirements
4. Adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of the Scheme and avoid any forms of plagiarism in the project idea;
5. Utilize the funds for the purpose for which it was granted;
6. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records available for inspection/verification by the CBN and Monitoring Team; and
7. Adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Verification/Monitoring of Projects

Projects shall be monitored by the Monitoring Team comprising of the CBN, and the PFI.

Discontinuation of a Credit Facility

• Whenever a loan is repaid or the Facility is otherwise discontinued, the lending bank shall return the fund to the CBN.
• The PFI shall discharge the movable collaterals from the national collateral registry

When is the exiting Date for the CBN Ties Grant?

The CBN Ties Scheme shall be operated for a period of 10 years in the first instance (not exceeding 31st December 2031) depending on the complexity of the project.

Note:

a.The CBN reserves the right to reject an application from any applicant that does not meet the requirements of the Guidelines.

b.The CBN may amend these Guidelines from time to time and may waive any part of these Guidelines upon the approval of the Governor.

For more information regarding the CBN Ties grant 2024, please kindly send us a message via searchngr24@gmail.com for further assistance.