The Federal Government has launched the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme across 14 universities, marking a major push to embed entrepreneurship and innovation into Nigeria’s higher education system.
The initiative was unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, at an event themed “Driving Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Building the Next Generation of Leaders.”
The programme is designed to equip students with practical business skills, innovative thinking, and the capacity to transform ideas into viable enterprises, regardless of their field of study.
Speaking at the launch, Alausa said the initiative is both timely and strategic, stressing that entrepreneurship must cut across disciplines—from engineering and medicine to law, sciences, and the creative arts.
He explained that the programme aligns with the vision of President Bola Tinubu to build a resilient, knowledge-driven, and innovation-led economy.
According to the minister, EIBIC is part of the broader Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), positioning education as a critical driver of economic growth and national development.
He urged university administrators to fully integrate the programme into their academic systems, while calling on lecturers to mentor students beyond classroom instruction and guide them toward enterprise creation.
Alausa also appealed to industry players and investors to partner with institutions in supporting student-led ventures, noting that the success of the programme depends on collaboration across sectors.
The first phase of the initiative will cover 14 universities across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Port Harcourt, and University of Benin, among others.
The programme’s rollout follows earlier collaborations with stakeholders, including private sector partners such as Sahara Group, which has supported entrepreneurship initiatives and capacity-building efforts in tertiary institutions.
The launch also builds on recent efforts by the Federal Ministry of Education to promote innovation among students, including the Student Venture Capital Grant, which has shortlisted top innovators from thousands of applicants nationwide.
Officials say the EIBIC programme represents a strategic shift toward producing graduates who are not just job seekers but job creators, capable of driving productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
With Nigeria’s growing youth population and rising unemployment challenges, the initiative is expected to play a critical role in shaping a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators equipped to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy.
