The Federal Government has introduced the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme across 14 universities, with plans to extend it to all federal universities by 2027 and all federal tertiary institutions by 2028.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, announced the initiative on Friday in Abuja during its official launch, describing it as a transformative move aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education system toward innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
He said, “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,” adding that the programme responds to the need to better prepare young Nigerians for a fast-changing global economy.
Alausa stressed that rapid technological advancements are reshaping industries and making many traditional jobs obsolete, warning that failure to adapt could widen the gap between education and employability.
He explained that the EIBIC initiative is designed to integrate entrepreneurship training across academic disciplines, using efforts at the University of Lagos as a reference point.
The programme will equip students with practical skills in innovation, business development, financial management, and venture creation, enabling them to build businesses even before graduation.
Linking the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, he said it aligns with the Renewed Hope vision of building a knowledge-based and innovation-driven 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.
He disclosed that the programme is being rolled out in 14 federal 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.
According to him, expansion will follow gradually, covering all federal universities and selected polytechnics and colleges of education by 2027, with full rollout across all federal tertiary institutions expected by 2028.
He also highlighted the Student Venture Capital Grant, noting that 36,000 applications were received, with 63 beneficiaries set to be selected on Sunday.
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Alausa directed vice-chancellors of participating institutions to ensure prompt approval of the programme by their senates, insisting on strict compliance timelines.
He further warned that delays would not be tolerated, stressing the urgency of implementation.
The Chairman of the EIBIC Planning and Monitoring Committee and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, described the programme as a key reform that aligns education with national economic priorities.
He said it would help bridge the gap between academic learning and labour market demands while promoting innovation and enterprise development among students.
He added that the initiative would produce graduates who are not only job seekers but also entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
The programme will run alongside academic studies from the first year to graduation, combining entrepreneurship training, mentorship, incubation, and access to funding opportunities, culminating in an additional certification in entrepreneurship.
