On Friday, March 27, 2026, the Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Education, unveiled the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme in 14 federal universities.

The EIBIC programme, which will be scaled up to all 74 federal universities by 2027, will also expand to all federal polytechnics and colleges of education by 2028.

The initiative is a compulsory entrepreneurship development scheme tailored for students in higher institutions. It is integrated with their academic studies and spans from their first year until graduation. Its framework combines early-stage exposure during orientation, ongoing entrepreneurial training, and opportunities for incubation, mentorship, and access to funding.

Through a well-defined progression, from idea generation to business creation, students are supported to establish viable enterprises before they graduate. At the end of the programme, participants are awarded an additional entrepreneurship certificate alongside their academic degrees.

At the unveiling in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa revealed that 14 federal universities will run the EIBIC programme before the end of this year.

He, therefore, directed the Vice-Chancellors of the 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 Senates 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 cautioned.

The Guardian reports that the institutions which cut across the six geopolitical zones include:

1. University of Lagos
2. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
3. University of Jos
4, Bayero University, Kano
5. Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto
6. University of Benin
7. University of Port Harcourt
8. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-lfe
9. University of Ibadan
10. University of Maiduguri
11. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
12. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
14. University of Abuja.