Unity Bank Plc has continued its drive to support youth entrepreneurship by awarding ₦16 million in grants to 30 promising young business owners through its flagship Corpreneurship Challenge.
The latest edition of the programme rewarded enterprising corps members who pitched innovative ideas spanning multiple industries — from fashion and bag making to pastry, events management, beauty services, vegetable farming, and more. The pitch sessions were held across 10 NYSC Orientation Camps nationwide, including camps in Cross River, Niger, Abuja, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa, Anambra, and Lagos States.
At the Lagos Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Adeniyi Stephen Gbemininyi topped the contest with his fashion design venture, earning the ₦800,000 grand prize. He was closely followed by Kolawole Opeoluwa Darasimi, whose bag-making business secured a ₦500,000 grant, while Johnson Elizabeth Ene won ₦300,000 to expand her cake and pastry brand.
Beyond Lagos, 27 more corps members were selected as winners across the other states for presenting viable business concepts in areas such as poultry farming, fish production, soap and cake making, printing, beverage production, piggery, and other value chains.
Running for six years, the Corpreneurship Challenge has become a core feature of the NYSC calendar, complementing the Federal Government’s mission to build employability skills and entrepreneurial capacity among graduates amid limited formal employment opportunities. Each year, thousands of corps members submit applications that are rigorously assessed for originality, scalability, and job creation potential.
Speaking at the Lagos grand finale, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Divisional Head, Retail & SME at Unity Bank, said: “At Unity Bank, we believe that empowering young people to shape Nigeria’s economic future must be supported provides longer term sustainability. Through the Corpreneurship Challenge, we are not just providing funding, but nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs equipped with the skills, resources, and confidence to create jobs and transform communities. The success stories we see year after year reaffirm our commitment to youth empowerment and SME development.”
She further noted: “The overwhelming interest and high quality of business ideas we receive in every edition demonstrate the incredible potential among Nigeria’s youth. We are proud to partner with the NYSC SAED to make these dreams a reality.”
The initiative is run in partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme. Corps members compete by pitching their businesses and stand the chance to win grants of up to ₦800,000 to kickstart or expand their ventures.
Since its inception in 2019, the Corpreneurship Challenge has grown into a nationally acclaimed youth empowerment scheme, attracting more than 2,000 applications per cycle. To date, Unity Bank has channelled over ₦100 million into the programme and produced more than 160 grant beneficiaries, cementing its place as a key supporter of grassroots entrepreneurship and job creation in Nigeria.
