- The Federal Government launched the EIBIC programme to promote entrepreneurship in Nigerian universities
- The initiative is being piloted in 14 universities across all geopolitical zones including the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos, among others
- Minister Maruf Alausa described the programme as a “strategic national intervention” that integrates entrepreneurship into all academic disciplines
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme across 14 universities in its pilot phase, marking a significant push to deepen entrepreneurship education nationwide.
The initiative was officially launched on Friday, March 27, by the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, at the TETFund Auditorium in Abuja.
The event carried the theme, “Driving Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Building the Next Generation of Leaders.”
EIBIC is designed to integrate entrepreneurship into students’ academic journeys, equipping them with practical skills, innovative thinking, and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
Speaking at the launch, the minister emphasised the urgency of the programme, noting that it cuts across all academic disciplines, from engineering and medicine to law, sciences, and the creative arts.
According to him, the initiative will empower students to transform their knowledge, talents, and passions into sustainable business ventures.
He said, “Within the Federal Ministry of Education, this also fits squarely into our broader reform framework under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), leveraging education as a driver of economic growth.
“EIBIC is therefore not a standalone programme, it is a strategic national intervention.”
The minister further stressed that the programme aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a resilient, innovation-driven economy powered by knowledge and enterprise.
Calling for collective responsibility, he urged Vice-Chancellors and university administrators to fully adopt and institutionalise the initiative.
He also encouraged lecturers to mentor students beyond academic instruction, while inviting industry stakeholders and investors to support student-led ventures.
He charged students to approach the opportunity with seriousness, creativity, and determination, noting that the programme requires a “whole-of-society” approach.
The first phase of the programme includes 14 universities spread across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones:
- Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
- University of Benin, Benin City
- University of Lagos
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
- University of Jos
- Bayero University, Kano
- University of Port Harcourt
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- University of Ibadan
- University of Maiduguri
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
- University of Abuja
The minister commended key stakeholders, including the National Universities Commission, TETFund, academic institutions, and industry partners, for their roles in developing and driving the programme. He also singled out Professor Sunday Adebisi and his team for their contributions to the initiative.
The programme is supported by Sahara Group, which recently awarded $12,000 each to three academics from the University of Lagos for impactful work in entrepreneurship and digital innovation.
The beneficiaries, Professor Sunday Adebisi, Dr Victor Odumuyiwa, and Professor AbdulHameed Sulaimon, have been tasked with scaling programmes that have already trained over 20,000 youths in advanced artificial intelligence and digital skills, while also improving institutional governance systems.
Professor Adebisi, widely recognised for his role in entrepreneurship education, was instrumental in developing the EIBIC concept.
This development follows closely on the heels of another major initiative by the Federal Ministry of Education, which recently shortlisted 65 student innovators from over 30,000 applicants across 404 tertiary institutions for the final stage of the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG).
Together, these programmes form part of a broader strategy under President Tinubu’s administration to support student-led innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s transition to an innovation-driven economy.