FG Launches Mandatory Entrepreneurship Scheme in 14 Varsities; Education Minister Orders Senates to Approve New ‘Business Incubation’ Certificate by April

Nigeria is officially shifting its education focus from “theory” to “enterprise” with the launch of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme. Unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in Abuja over the weekend, the initiative “flips the script” on decades of generic entrepreneurship courses that failed to produce real-world results.

The “Solution” to rising graduate unemployment, according to the Minister, is to turn tertiary institutions into hubs for “unicorn” startups. Under the new EIBIC framework, students will begin entrepreneurship exposure at the 100 level, progressing to full business incubation and mentorship by their final year. “We are moving our young people from passive learners to active innovators,” Alausa stated, noting that the 14 pilot universities which include the University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University have until the end of April 2026 to get their Senates to approve the curriculum.

To prove the government is serious about funding these ideas, 45 student-led startups were awarded ₦50 million each on Sunday at the UNDP Innovation Hub in Lagos. These grants are equity-free, meaning students keep full ownership of their businesses. Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the move as a critical strategy to ensure that the next wave of global innovation in fintech, agriculture, and healthcare is “Made in Nigeria” by Nigerian students.

With over 30,000 students already applying for the first round of venture grants, the enthusiasm on campuses is at an all-time high. The government’s ultimate goal is a nationwide rollout that ensures by 2028, every graduate from a federal institution leaves with both a certificate of learning and a viable, registered business.