Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of the Blue Collar Fund, a long-term initiative designed to reduce poverty, unemployment, and economic hardship by supporting young Nigerians pursuing vocational and technical careers.
The Blue Collar Fund is a 10-year project that provides need-based financial and technical assistance to artisans, apprentices, and young people who are learning practical skills but face financial barriers that could prevent them from completing their training or starting their businesses.
Through the 2026 grant program, selected beneficiaries will receive financial support to cover tuition fees for their vocational training and/or receive essential tools required to practice their chosen trade, helping them build sustainable livelihoods and become economically independent.
The initiative seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s skilled workforce by investing in young people whose talents can contribute to local economic development, job creation, and the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). By easing the financial burden of vocational education and providing access to work tools, the program aims to help beneficiaries transition more quickly into productive employment or self-employment.
The fund is open to economically disadvantaged Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 who are actively undergoing training in a recognised blue-collar trade. Eligible skills include carpentry, tailoring, plumbing, welding, electrical installation, auto mechanics, painting, bricklaying, hairdressing, furniture making, and other vocational occupations.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be economically disadvantaged.
- Be between 18 and 35 years of age.
- Be actively learning a blue-collar skill in Nigeria.
What Beneficiaries Will Receive
Successful applicants may receive:
- Tuition support for their vocational or technical training.
- Essential tools needed to practice their chosen trade.
Applications for the 2026 cohort close on 31 July 2026.
Apply here: http://bit.ly/bcf2026-apply
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