The Federal Government has unveiled the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme in 14 universities, with plans to expand it to all federal universities by 2027 and all federal tertiary institutions by 2028.

The Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during the official unveiling of the initiative, describing it as a major shift in Nigeria’s education system toward innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.

“Today marks not just the launch of a programme, but the beginning of a new paradigm in Nigeria’s education system, one that shifts our young people from job-seekers to job-creators, from passive learners to active innovators, and from graduates to nation builders,” he said.

He noted that the programme comes at a critical time when the country must harness the potential of its youthful population while addressing the limitations of traditional education models.

Alausa warned that rapid technological changes are disrupting industries and widening the gap between education and employability if proactive measures are not taken.

“The world is changing rapidly. Technology is reshaping industries, and many traditional jobs are disappearing. Even as new opportunities emerge, if we do not prepare our young people adequately, we risk widening the gap between education and employability,” he said.

He explained that the EIBIC programme is designed to embed entrepreneurship across disciplines, citing ongoing efforts at the University of Lagos as a model.

According to the minister, the programme will equip students with practical competencies in innovation, business planning, financial literacy, and venture development, enabling them to build sustainable enterprises even before graduation.

He further linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s economic vision, describing it as part of a broader strategy to build a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy.

“EIBIC aligns with our national priorities. This initiative aligns perfectly with the vision of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda to build a resilient, knowledge-driven, and innovation-led economy,” Alausa said.

According to the minister, the programme will be implemented in phases, beginning with 14 universities, including the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos, Bayero University Kano, Uthman Danfodio University, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and University of Abuja.

He added, “Today, EIBIC is being rolled out in 14 universities. By next year, all federal universities will be onboarded, including some federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education. By the end of 2028, all our federal tertiary institutions will be fully onboarded.”

The minister also highlighted the Student Venture Capital Grant introduced by the ministry, revealing strong interest among Nigerian youths.

“On Sunday, we will be choosing 63 people who will benefit from the Student Venture Capital Grant. Guess how many people applied? 36,000 young entrepreneurs applied,” he said.

Alausa directed vice-chancellors of participating institutions to fast-track the approval of the programme within their respective senates.

“I am directing you all on or before the end of April; all your senators must approve this programme. This is a directive that I am not going to take lightly. I will call, and there will be consequences because we are in a hurry to get this programme to our youth,” he warned.

Earlier, the Chairman of the EIBIC Planning and Monitoring Committee and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, described the initiative as a major step toward aligning education with national economic goals.

“This landmark initiative by the Minister marks a transformative leap in repositioning Nigerian education as a true driver of national economic development,” he said.

Ishaya noted that the programme complements existing funding opportunities for student entrepreneurs.

He added that the initiative would strengthen the link between academic learning and market needs while fostering innovation and enterprise among students.

“By focusing on practical skills acquisition, innovation-driven thinking, and structured incubation, it is not just satisfying individuals. It is building a new generation of job creators, innovators, and industrial leaders,” Ishaya said.

The launch attracted key stakeholders from across the education sector, with expectations that the EIBIC programme will play a critical role in reducing youth unemployment and driving sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

The EIBIC programme is a mandatory entrepreneurship development initiative designed for students in tertiary institutions. It runs concurrently with academic programmes, starting from the first year through to graduation.

The structure includes early exposure through orientation programmes, continuous entrepreneurship training, and access to incubation, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

Students are guided through a structured pathway from idea development to venture creation, to enable them to build sustainable businesses even before graduation.

Upon completion, participants receive an additional certification in entrepreneurship alongside their academic degrees. (The PUNCH)

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