Unity Bank Awards ₦16 Million in Business Grants to 30 Young Entrepreneurs

Unity Bank Awards ₦16 Million in Business Grants to 30 Young Entrepreneurs

LAGOS, July 2, 2025 — In a continued push to foster youth entrepreneurship and job creation in Nigeria, Unity Bank Plc has awarded ₦16 million in business grants to 30 young entrepreneurs under its flagship Corpreneurship Challenge.

The winners, all serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, emerged from a rigorous business pitch competition held across 10 NYSC Orientation Camps in Lagos, Abuja, Cross River, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa, and Anambra States.

The business ideas spanned a wide range of sectors, including fashion design, bag and shoe making, pastries, event management, beauty, agriculture, fish farming, printing, and beverage production.

At the Lagos NYSC Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Adeniyi Stephen Gbemininyi took the top prize of ₦800,000 for his fashion design startup. He was followed by Kolawole Opeoluwa Darasimi, who received ₦500,000 for a bag-making business, while Johnson Elizabeth Ene won ₦300,000 to support her cake and pastry venture.

Across the nine other states, 27 additional corps members were also awarded grants for innovative business ideas in line with Unity Bank’s goal of nurturing job creators rather than job seekers.

Now in its sixth year, the Corpreneurship Challenge has become a key feature of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, aligning with the Federal Government’s efforts to equip young graduates with practical business skills.

Speaking at the Lagos finale, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail and SME, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, said the initiative goes beyond financial support to provide long-term empowerment.

“At Unity Bank, we believe in the power of young people to shape Nigeria’s economic future. Through the Corpreneurship Challenge, we’re not just offering grants; we’re investing in future business leaders who will create jobs, solve problems, and transform communities,” she said.

Mrs. Abimbola added that the programme continues to attract thousands of applicants nationwide, with each edition revealing the "immense entrepreneurial potential among Nigeria’s youth."

The bank has so far invested over ₦100 million in the programme since its inception in 2019, producing more than 160 grant winners. Winners are selected based on originality, market relevance, sustainability, and potential for job creation.

Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge has received national acclaim for its impact on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development, earning recognition as one of the most consistent private sector-led youth support programmes in the country.

In partnership with the NYSC SAED programme, the initiative features regular pitch sessions, mentorship, and funding opportunities of up to ₦800,000 per participant.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with youth unemployment and a shrinking white-collar job market, initiatives like Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge offer a viable path toward economic resilience and self-reliance for the next generation.