The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, hosted the official launch of the national implementation of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) Programme, becoming the first of 14 selected universities to go live under the Federal Government’s rollout of the initiative.
The event, held at the Bank of Industry (BoI) Hub Building of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), Faculty of Social Sciences, marked a major milestone in the transition of EIBIC from a UNILAG-conceived programme into a national framework for entrepreneurship education across Nigerian universities.
From UNILAG Innovation to National Programme
Welcoming participants, the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre, Professor Oladimeji Odetunde, attributed the growth of EIBIC to the vision and sustained support of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS.
Prof. Odetunde noted that the initiative had evolved from a modest university programme into one attracting interest from institutions across Africa.
Tracing the initiative’s hstory, the National Coordinator of EIBIC, Professor Sunday Adebisi, traced the programme’s roots to the University’s Entrepreneurship Centre. He explained that it was deliberately conceived to move entrepreneurship education beyond conventional skill acquisition towards mindset change, innovation, opportunity, identification, and the transformation of ideas into viable solutions and ventures.
Professor Adebisi emphasised that EIBIC is structured as a continuous journey throughout a student’s university education rather than a one-off activity or graduation requirement.
He stated that the Federal Government’s recognition of the programme’s potential led to its adoption for national implementation, beginning with 14 universities, with UNILAG selected as the launch site because of its pioneering role.
UNILAG Strengthens Innovation Ecosystem
Representing the Vice-Chancellor at the event, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Professor Matthew Ilori, described the national adoption of EIBIC as consistent with UNILAG’s commitment to producing graduates capable of creating value and addressing societal challenges.
He conveyed the Vice-Chancellor’s appreciation to the Federal Government, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the EIBIC team, the Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS), the Dean of Students’ Affairs and other stakeholders who contributed to the programme’s development and nationalisation.
Prof. Ilori urged students to approach EIBIC as an opportunity for discovery and innovation rather than merely as a graduation requirement. He encouraged them to identify real-life challenges in health, agriculture, food processing, technology, finance, education, and the environment, develop solutions, test their ideas, and seek mentorship.
He noted that UNILAG’s innovation ecosystem, comprising hubs, laboratories, market spaces, industry partnerships, and intellectual resources, is designed to support entrepreneurship and innovation. The University’s ambition, he added, is to develop a pipeline of start-ups and spin-offs capable of becoming sustainable and globally competitive enterprises.
Digital Platform Takes Ideas Towards Enterprise
The Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS), Professor Hakeem Amuda, explained that EIBIC equips students with capabilities beyond conventional academic qualifications, enabling them to create value, become economically productive and generate employment.
He stressed that entrepreneurship is relevant across all academic disciplines and assured participants that robust cybersecurity measures had been put in place to protect students’ data. Prof. Amuda also disclosed that CITS was strengthening internet connectivity at student hotspots to improve access to the platform.
In line with this, the digital component of EIBIC was demonstrated by Mr Sanni Eniola, Chief Executive Officer of First-Hightower Infotech and digital consultant to the programme and his team. The component integrates learning, assessment, incubation, mentorship, and monitoring. Students access course registration, virtual classes, lectures, recorded materials, assignments, attendance and assessments through personal dashboards.
The platform incubation module enables students to develop ideas by identifying a problem, defining the opportunity, proposing a solution, constituting a team, and outlining potential risks. Submitted ideas undergo assessment, with qualifying projects proceeding to further review and mentorship.
Vetted mentors by the ESDC connect with student teams, monitor project development, schedule engagements, and provide assessments. The process supports students from ideation through mentorship and business development, with pathways towards funding opportunities and post-graduation monitoring.
Dean of Students’ Affairs Commends Initiative
The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Johnson Agunsoye, also delivered comments at the event. He welcomed the large turnout of students and emphasised the importance of the programme for their personal and professional development. He noted the effort required to mobilise students for the launch and encouraged them to take full advantage of the opportunity provided by EIBIC.
Federal Government Backs National Rollout
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Programmes, Mr Adebayo Onigbanjo, expressed the Federal Government’s support for the national implementation of EIBIC.
Mr Onigbanjo explained that the programme is intended to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students, whether they eventually establish businesses or work within existing organisations. He identified problem-solving as a critical component of entrepreneurship and encouraged students to apply their knowledge to challenges within their communities and the country.
He emphasised the importance of sustaining the programme beyond individual government administrations and encouraged successful graduates to return to the University as mentors for subsequent generations.
Mr Onigbanjo confirmed the Federal Government’s plan to extend EIBIC to 14 universities and disclosed that intensive training for participating institutions would form part of the rollout. He also linked the initiative to other Federal Government interventions, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Student Venture Capital Grant.
Students Welcome Opportunity
The University of Lagos Student Union (ULSU) Speaker, Adesina Abolaji, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, University Management and the EIBIC team for providing students with the opportunity to participate in the initiative. He assured stakeholders that students would maximise the opportunity and share the knowledge and benefits gained with others.
The national rollout marks a major transition for EIBIC from a programme conceived at the University of Lagos into a national initiative aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship education across Nigeria’s university system.
For UNILAG, the development reinforces its pioneering role in entrepreneurship and innovation education while providing students with a structured pathway from identifying problems and developing ideas to testing solutions, receiving mentorship and pursuing funding and enterprise development opportunities.
As implementation expands to the other participating universities, UNILAG is positioned to remain a key reference point in the development and refinement of EIBIC, drawing on its experience as the institution where the programme was conceived and first developed.
Report: Lynda Onah
Photograph: Ayo Oloyede
