FG launches EIBIC, Tasks Vice Chancellors On Effective Implementation

In a bid to curb unemployment and promote students Entrepreneurial skilld in Job creation, the Federal Government has launched the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme aimed at transforming Nigerian students from job seekers to job creators.

To this end, it has also directed Vice Chancellors across the 14 Federal Universities already captured in the first phase of this programme to ensure full compliance and effective implementation within the next one month.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa who disclosed this during the official launch of EIBIC in Abuja explained
that all federal universities, alongside selected federal polytechnics and colleges of education, would be onboarded by 2027.

“Already, the programme has been approved in 14 federal universities, with plans to expand it to all 74 federal universities by 2027 and scale up to all federal polytechnics and colleges of education by 2028.”

Dr Alausa while commending stakeholders in both the Academia and industries for their supportive commitments in driving the initiative, noted that the it marks a significant shift from traditional academic learning to a more practical, skills-driven approach that empowers students to create jobs rather than depend solely on employment opportunities.

He described the programme as a strategic response to evolving global realities where technology continues to reshape industries and traditional employment opportunities decline.

“Today marks not just the launch of a programme, but the beginning of a new paradigm in Nigeria’s education system.

“This programme will shift our young people from passive learners to active innovators and from graduates to nation builders,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s youthful population remains both a major asset and responsibility. He stressied that conventional academic models alone could no longer address unemployment and employability challenges.

On his part, the EIBIC Subject Matter Expert, Prof. Sunday Adebisi,said the initiative will ensure that students graduate with two certifications: a degree in their chosen field and a certificate in entrepreneurship, to further strengthen the link between education and industry by providing practical skills aligned with real-world economic and business needs.

“It will also provide mentorship opportunities, innovation support systems and access to funding mechanisms to help students launch sustainable businesses before graduation,” he said.

Prof Adebisi further noted that the programme would encourage students to transform hobbies, talents, interests and academic knowledge into viable enterprises through structured incubation pathways.

In their separate goodwill messages, stakeholders across the academia and industries that include, the Vice Chancellor University of Jos, VC university of Lagos, GMD Sahara group among other captains of industries, pledged their support and commitment towards effective actualisation of the initiative.

The 14 universities to offer EIBIC programme includes: University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University, Kano; Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto; University of Benin; University of Port Harcourt; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Ibadan; University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and University of Abuja.

Nkiruka Okeke, Edited By Grace Namiji