Education Minister applauds ₦2.2 billion grants to student innovators

Education, Technology

ABUJA, NIGERIA, 30 March 2026 (NPA) — The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has expressed delight at the presentation of cheques totalling ₦2.2 billion in grants to 45 outstanding student ventures, recognising young Nigerians who are turning bold ideas into real solutions.

The Minister said the recipients were the product of an “intense and inspiring S‑VCG Bootcamp,” noting that the journey began with over 30,000 applications from 404 tertiary institutions, narrowed down to 65 finalists, and culminating in 45 innovators emerging as winners from institutions across Nigeria.

According to a statement on Monday, Alausa clarified that the winners came from federal, state, and private universities, with the majority from public institutions — “proof that talent and innovation exist in every corner of our country.”

He added: “A moment that stood out for me was seeing 8 winners from the University of Lagos, many of whom came through our Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme — a tried‑and‑tested pathway we are building to move students from ideas to real ventures. That is exactly the vision behind EIBIC: not just teaching entrepreneurship, but building founders, innovators, and builders.”

“The Student Venture Capital Grant is more than funding — it is belief in the next generation. My sincere thanks to our panel of evaluators and judges, whose expertise and careful assessment helped identify these outstanding ventures. I am also deeply grateful to our partners, Bank of Industry, Afara Initiative and Elsie Attafuah of UNDP, for their support in making this programme a success.”

While congratulating the 45 winners, the Minister also recognised the efforts of the 65 finalists, describing them collectively as “what the future of Nigeria looks like, and Nigeria’s next generation of innovators.”