The Federal Government has launched a mandatory Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification programme in 14 federal universities. The initiative aims to equip students with practical business skills and foster innovation, with plans to extend it to all federal universities by 2027 and all federal tertiary institutions by 2028. The programme requires students to complete certified entrepreneurship training before graduation. It is being rolled out in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education and other education agencies. According to officials, the goal is to reduce youth unemployment by encouraging self-employment and startup development. Students will undergo training in business planning, digital innovation, and venture creation. The programme is already active in institutions including the University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology Akure, and Ahmadu Bello University.
Mandatory entrepreneurship training sounds useful, but adding another certification hurdle for students in universities already starved of basic infrastructure raises concerns. If the government cannot fix lecture hall power supply or internet access in these 14 pilot schools, rolling it out nationwide by 2028 looks more like bureaucratic overreach than a jobs solution. The real test is whether this programme will be backed with funding, trainers, and support systems—or just another certificate to chase.
