OAU, UNN Graduates Emerge Winners in Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge at NYSC Camps

OAU, UNN Graduates Emerge Winners in Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge at NYSC Camps

LAGOS, Feb. 10, 2026 — Fresh graduates from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and other tertiary institutions have emerged winners in the 27th edition of Unity Bank Plc’s flagship Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, popularly known as the Corpreneurship Challenge.

The winners were announced following the Business Pitch segment of the Batch C, Stream 2 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation programme held across 10 states nationwide.

Corps members presented business ideas spanning fashion, agribusiness, footwear production, manufacturing, and service delivery, showcasing innovation and entrepreneurial drive among Nigeria’s young graduates.

At the Lagos State NYSC Orientation Camp, Awolumate Fawaz Babatunde, a Civil Engineering graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, clinched the N800,000 grand prize after pitching a fashion design business. Ugwoke Daniel Ifechukwu, a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, emerged first runner-up and received N500,000.

In Rivers State, Abdur-Razaq Sayfullah Adebola, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, won at the Nonwa Gbam Tai NYSC Orientation Camp with a footwear production business plan. At the Kwara State camp, Olatunde Esther Funmilayo of Olabisi Onabanjo University impressed judges with her deodorant production and services pitch to emerge winner.

Additional winners were recorded in Abuja, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Plateau, Kaduna, and Delta States, underscoring the nationwide reach of the initiative.

Speaking on the programme, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, Retail, SME & E-Business at Unity Bank Plc, said the Corpreneurship Challenge reflects the bank’s sustained commitment to youth empowerment and enterprise development.

“The Corpreneurship Challenge has been driven by our commitment to boosting entrepreneurship among young people, especially fresh graduates. We recognise that many young Nigerians have viable business ideas but lack the initial capital and support to bring them to life. This initiative bridges that gap by providing financial backing, mentorship, and confidence at a critical stage,” she said.

Abimbola noted that the quality of business ideas presented across states demonstrates a growing entrepreneurial spirit among Nigerian youths.

“Each edition reveals innovation, resilience, and a strong desire to create value and jobs. By supporting these young entrepreneurs early, we are strengthening the SME ecosystem and contributing to national economic growth,” she added.

Delivered in partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative, the Corpreneurship Challenge has become a key feature of the NYSC orientation programme. Since inception, the initiative has supported 638 young entrepreneurs nationwide with grants amounting to up to N300 million to help them launch or expand their businesses.

Unity Bank reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the reach of the programme as part of its broader strategy to promote financial inclusion, job creation, and sustainable economic growth in line with the Federal Government’s push for entrepreneurship and self-employment among graduates.