The Federal Government has launched the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) Programme, a transformative initiative designed to equip Nigerian students with entrepreneurial skills and the capacity to build sustainable enterprises before graduation. 

The programme, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education last week on the March 27, reaffirms the government’s commitment to equipping students with industry-ready skills to drive national economic growth. It is part of a broader scheme by the federal government to reposition Nigeria’s educational system for innovation, enterprise and economic productivity by shifting learning towards practical, innovation-driven approaches that prepare students to become job creators.

EIBIC aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative which pay critical attention to the importance of practical skill acquisition among students, to enhance employability and self-reliance upon graduation. 

Speaking at the launch of the programme, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that the programme embeds entrepreneurship across all disciplines, enabling students to transform academic knowledge into viable ventures. 

Stakeholders from the academia and industry present at the launch, highlighted the programme’s potential to drive innovation, strengthen enterprise development and reduce youth unemployment.

Currently implemented in selected universities, EIBIC will be expanded nationwide, providing mentorship, incubation support and opportunities for students to build scalable enterprises.