{
  "id": 555759,
  "title": "How Nigerians can apply for ECOWAS $65,000 startup award",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/how-nigerians-can-apply-for-ecowas-65-000-startup-award",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-11T10:31:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/how-nigerians-can-apply-for-ecowas-65000-startup-award/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has opened applications for the second edition of its Startup Awards, offering a total of $65,000 in cash prizes to innovative startups from across the region, including Nigeria. The award aims to promote digital entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic integration in West Africa. Eligible applicants must be citizens of an ECOWAS member state, operate a startup registered and based in an ECOWAS country, have a minimum of two years of operations, demonstrate a working product or service, and show evidence of market traction or scalability. Interested Nigerians can apply through the official application portal, providing necessary documents and completing the required sections of the application form.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "How Nigerians can apply for ECOWAS $65,000 startup award",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/how-nigerians-can-apply-for-ecowas-65-000-startup-award-557184",
        "published": "2026-08-11T10:31:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}