Nigerian university students now have a structured pathway from business idea to funding, and it started at UNILAG.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the University of Lagos became the first of 14 selected universities to go live with the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification Program, widely known as EIBIC. The launch took place at the Bank of Industry Hub Building within UNILAG’s Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Center. Thus, marking the transition of what began as a UNILAG initiative into a national program backed by the Federal Government.

What EIBIC Actually Does

EIBIC is not a one-off workshop or a graduation requirement. It is designed as a continuous journey that runs throughout a student’s entire university education, guiding them from identifying a real-world problem all the way through to developing a solution, testing it, receiving mentorship, and eventually pursuing funding opportunities.

The program runs on a digital platform that gives students access to virtual classes, recorded lectures, assignments, and personal dashboards. Through the platform’s incubation module, students can develop their ideas step by step by walking through the process of defining the problem, proposing a solution, building a team, and outlining risks. Vetted mentors then connect with student teams, monitor their progress, and provide structured feedback along the way.

Why EIBIC Matters for Student Entrepreneurs

For student entrepreneurs, EIBIC closes a gap that has always existed in Nigerian university education. That is, the space between having an idea and knowing what to do with it. The program provides that structure, and connects it to real funding pathways and post-graduation support.

The Federal Government plans to extend the program to all 14 participating universities, with intensive training for each institution forming part of the roll out. The initiative also connects to other government interventions including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Student Venture Capital Grant.