The Beauty Hut Women's Grant is back. Beauty Hut Africa, one of Nigeria's leading beauty distribution and retail companies, has announced the second edition of the grant, powered by Busha and themed "Give to Gain." The programme lands in alignment with International Women's Day 2026, and this year the team is promising more businesses supported, bigger prizes, and a live pitching experience that raises the stakes for every applicant.
Last year's inaugural edition drew hundreds of applications through word of mouth alone. Estebare walked away with the two-million-naira grand prize, while Cilsets and Muna and Luchi were recognised as first and second runners-up. That result gave the Beauty Hut Africa team all the proof they needed. "Our first grant showed us what's possible when you bet on women," said Subuola Oyeleye, Founder and CEO of Beauty Hut Africa. "These women are ready. Now it's our job to match their ambition with the resources they deserve."
The grant is open to operational, female-led businesses across Nigeria working in skincare, haircare, beauty-adjacent wellness, and retail. Winners receive funding, mentorship, and visibility. The numbers behind the initiative make the case clearly: women run 58 percent of SMEs across Africa and the majority of businesses in the beauty sector, yet access to capital and the right networks remains a persistent barrier. Nigeria's beauty industry is projected to reach 6.5 billion naira by 2030, and this grant is positioned to put female entrepreneurs at the centre of that growth.
Busha's involvement brings fresh financial firepower to the programme. "At Busha, we believe financial empowerment is the foundation of everything," said Michael Adeyiri, Co-Founder and CEO at Busha. "These entrepreneurs represent the future of African beauty, and we are proud to help make that future possible."
The programme culminates in a live grant award ceremony in April, where finalists will pitch to a panel of judges drawn from top entrepreneurs, investors, and beauty industry leaders. Applications are open now, and if last year's numbers are anything to go by, the competition will be fierce.
Originally published by Bella Naija Beauty.