By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The Federal Government says the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme aims to transform Nigerian students from job seekers into job creators and driving innovation-led economic growth.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said this while unveiling the programme in Abuja on Friday.

Alausa said the initiative marked a major shift in Nigeria’s education system toward entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development.

Alausa described the programme as a strategic response to evolving global realities where technology continues to reshape industries and traditional employment opportunities decline.

“Today marks not just the launch of a programme, but the beginning of a new paradigm in Nigeria’s education system.

“This programme will shift our young people from passive learners to active innovators and from graduates to nation builders,” he said.

He commended universities, the National Universities Commission (NUC), TETFund, industry partners and directors of entrepreneurship centres for supporting the initiative.

According to the minister, Nigeria’s youthful population remains both a major asset and responsibility, stressing that conventional academic models alone could no longer address unemployment and employability challenges.

He explained that EIBIC was designed to embed entrepreneurship training across disciplines including engineering, medicine, law, sciences and the creative arts.

“Under the programme, students would acquire practical skills in innovation, business planning, financial literacy and venture development while still in school.

“EIBIC enables students to convert knowledge, talent and passion into viable enterprises even before graduation,” he said.

Alausa noted that the programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Ministry of Education’s reform framework under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

He added that the initiative would strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM) education, promote skills acquisition, enhance industry-academia collaboration and position education as a driver of economic growth.

The minister said EIBIC would operate through a structured multi-level model, beginning with entrepreneurship exposure at 100 level, progressive skills development at intermediate stages and full business incubation, mentorship and venture creation at the final stages.

Alausa said that EIBIC had already been introduced in 14 universities in its first phase, adding that all federal universities, alongside selected federal polytechnics and colleges of education, would be onboarded by 2027.

He said full adoption across federal tertiary institutions was targeted for completion by 2028.

Alausa directed vice-chancellors of participating universities to secure Senate approval for full integration of the programme before the end of April.

He urged lecturers, industry partners and investors to actively mentor and support student innovators, while calling on students to embrace entrepreneurship opportunities with dedication and creativity.

The minister expressed optimism that the programme would accelerate Nigeria’s transition toward an innovation-led economy.

The EIBIC Subject Matter Expert, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, who is from the university of Lagos, said the initiative would strengthen the link between education and industry by providing practical skills aligned with real-world economic and business needs.

Adebisi said the programme would encourage students to transform hobbies, talents, interests and academic knowledge into viable enterprises through structured incubation pathways.

According to him, it will also provide mentorship opportunities, innovation support systems and access to funding mechanisms to help students launch sustainable businesses before graduation.

“The initiative is expected to support wealth creation by encouraging sustainable enterprises capable of generating income and expanding opportunities across communities,” he said.

Mr Debo Olujimi, Chief Executive Officer, EMADEB Energy and Founder Ibom Upstream, pledged an investment of N200 million across universities in the six geopolitical zones to support the growth of young people.

The 14 universities to offer EIBIC programme were selected from federal universities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

They are: University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University, Kano; Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto; University of Benin; University of Port Harcourt and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Others are University of Ibadan; University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and University of Abuja. (NAN)

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