A popular Sudanese TV channel is going to broadcast the nation's first Apprentice-style reality show.

According to Al-Arabiya, the program titled Mashrouy (my project) will be telecasted on the Blue Nile TV network.

Abda Yahia El-Mahdi, a former finance minister, has been hired as one of its judges.

The show revolves around 12 young Sudanese entrepreneurs who will pitch and develop their ideas for a start-up firm over the course of several episodes. The dozen hopefuls will be mentored by four leading Sudanese businesspeople and economists, before the group is whittled down through a series of eliminations.

Viewers will then vote on a winner from the shortlist.

Sudan is no stranger to reality TV shows but the concept of a business oriented show is novel, according to Mahir Elfiel, one of the show’s co-coordinators. “We have stuff like American Idol, but nothing business-oriented like Apprentice or Dragons Den. No TV station has done this before,” said Elfiel.