No fewer than 578 young entrepreneurs across Nigeria have benefitted from Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge — the Bank’s flagship entrepreneurial development initiative designed to support budding entrepreneurs, foster job creation, and stimulate economic growth.
In the latest edition, 30 new winners emerged, receiving a combined grant of ₦16 million during the Batch B, Stream II edition of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation course held across 10 states of the federation.
The innovative entrepreneurs — drawn from sectors such as fashion design, bag making, pastry and beverage production, event management, and vegetable farming — pitched their business ideas during the challenge at NYSC Orientation Camps in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kwara, Benue, Abia, Kogi, Rivers, and Plateau States.
At the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Lagos, Fiyinfoluwa Titilayo Ojo, who presented a soap-making enterprise, emerged as the overall winner, clinching the ₦800,000 grand prize. Ndukwe Chiamaka Joan secured the ₦500,000 first runner-up position with her small chops business proposal, while Barakat Modinat Olamide won ₦300,000 to expand her beverage-making venture.
Expressing her excitement, Fiyinfoluwa Ojo described the experience as “life-changing,” saying:
“I’m truly grateful to Unity Bank for this opportunity. Winning the Corpreneurship Challenge has given me the confidence to scale my soap-making business. Beyond the grant, the experience taught me how to structure my business better and believe in its potential. It’s amazing to see a bank that genuinely invests in young people’s dreams.”
Across the remaining nine states, 27 other winners also received grants for innovative ventures, including fish and poultry farming, printing, piggery, and cake production.
Over the past six years, the Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has become an integral part of the NYSC programme, aligning with the Federal Government’s efforts to upskill young graduates and promote entrepreneurship amid dwindling white-collar job opportunities. Each edition attracts thousands of entries from corps members whose business plans are evaluated for originality, marketability, job creation potential, and overall business acumen.
Speaking at the Lagos finale, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail & SME, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth through enterprise. She stated:
“At Unity Bank, we believe the energy and creativity of young Nigerians are vital to the nation’s economic transformation. The Corpreneurship Challenge is our way of nurturing this potential — by giving corps members the financial boost, mentorship, and confidence to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. Seeing over 578 young entrepreneurs already impacted motivates us to keep expanding the initiative and deepening our support for the SME ecosystem.”
The Corpreneurship Challenge has earned Unity Bank national recognition for its impactful role in youth empowerment and job creation, attracting over 2,000 applicants per edition.
In partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, the initiative continues to serve as a launchpad for youth-owned enterprises, offering grants of up to ₦800,000 to help corps members transform their business dreams into reality.