Imagine leaving university not just with a degree, but with a business you can launch right away. That’s what’s coming to 14 federal universities across Nigeria.
On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Education unveiled the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC), a compulsory programme designed to help students turn ideas into real businesses before graduation.
EIBIC runs from first year to final year, combining entrepreneurial training, mentorship, incubation, and access to funding. At the end, students get an extra entrepreneurship certificate alongside their degree.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, directed Vice-Chancellors to fast-track approval of the programme by April, stressing that delays would not be tolerated.
The first 14 universities selected cut across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones:
University of Lagos
Ahmadu Bello University
University of Jos
Bayero University
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
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
University of Abuja
For students, EIBIC is more than a programme—it’s a chance to build skills, launch businesses, and graduate ready for real-world challenges.
In a country where youth unemployment is high, the initiative shifts the focus from job hunting to job creation, giving every participant a head start on building their future.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.