In a bold show of commitment to youth empowerment and economic transformation, Unity Bank Plc has awarded business grants totaling ₦16 million to 30 young Nigerian entrepreneurs during the latest edition of its Corpreneurship Challenge.
The winners, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from ten states, emerged after a rigorous pitch competition held in Batch A Stream 2 camps across Cross River, Niger, Abuja, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa, Anambra, and Lagos. Their business ideas spanned several sectors including fashion, farming, food processing, bag making, beauty services, and event planning.
At the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Lagos, Adeniyi Stephen Gbemininyi claimed the ₦800,000 grand prize with a compelling pitch for his fashion design business. Kolawole Opeoluwa Darasimi, a bag maker, received ₦500,000, while Johnson Elizabeth Ene was awarded ₦300,000 to scale her pastry venture.
Twenty-seven additional winners emerged from camps in other states, each showcasing innovative solutions in sectors such as piggery, poultry, printing, beverage production, soap making, and vegetable farming.
Unity Bank’s flagship Corpreneurship Challenge, launched in 2019, has become a signature component of the NYSC programme, promoting entrepreneurship as a sustainable alternative to white-collar employment. Since inception, the bank has invested over ₦100 million into the initiative, producing more than 160 youth business grant winners.
Speaking at the Lagos finale, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head of Retail & SME, reaffirmed the bank’s long-term vision: “Through this initiative, we are nurturing a generation of business leaders who will not only create jobs but also transform entire communities.”
Abimbola praised the creativity and resilience of Nigerian youths, citing the high volume and quality of applications as proof of their untapped potential.
The Corpreneurship Challenge is run in collaboration with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme. Participants compete for grants up to ₦800,000 by pitching business ideas evaluated for originality, feasibility, and economic impact.
With youth unemployment still a major concern nationwide, the Corpreneurship Challenge stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment for fresh graduates seeking to chart their own course.
Unity Bank’s consistent investment in this programme has earned it national recognition for SME development and youth-focused initiatives,a milestone fasnewsng.com continues to spotlight in the interest of a more prosperous Nigeria.
By Augustine Idoje
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