About N16 million business grant has been given to 30 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by Unity Bank Plc.
The funding support was awarded to the 30 young entrepreneurs in the bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge in Cross River, Niger, Abuja, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa, Anambra, and Lagos States.
The beneficiaries received the grant after developing innovative solutions across various business value chains, including fashion design, bag making, pastry making, event management, beauty, vegetable farming, and more.
They participated in a business pitch competition held recently for Batch A Stream 2 across 10 NYSC Orientation Camps.
Over the past six years, the Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has become an integral part of the NYSC programme, aligning with the federal government’s commitment to upskilling fresh graduates amid the growing dearth of white-collar jobs.
The programme attracts thousands of applications from serving NYSC corps members, whose business plans are evaluated for originality, marketability, employability potential, and overall business acumen.
At the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Lagos State, corps member Adeniyi Stephen Gbemininyi, who pitched a fashion design business, emerged as the overall winner, clinching the N800,000 grand prize.
Kolawole Opeoluwa Darasimi, a budding bag maker, won a N500,000 grant, while Johnson Elizabeth Ene received a N300,000 grant to support her cake and pastry business.
Across the remaining nine states, 27 other winners also emerged after pitching business plans in diverse sectors such as fish production, poultry farming, fashion, soap and cake making, printing, piggery, beverage production, and more.
“At Unity Bank, we believe that empowering young people to shape Nigeria’s economic future must be supported to provide 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,” the Divisional Head for Retail and SME at Unity Bank, Mrs Adenike Abimbola, said.
“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,” she added.
The Corpreneurship Challenge has earned Unity Bank national recognition for its contribution to youth empowerment and job creation, attracting over 2,000 applicants per edition.
In partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, the initiative features a business pitch competition that allows participants to present their business plans and win grants of up to N800,000.
So far, Unity Bank has invested over N100 million in the initiative, producing over 160 winners since its launch in 2019.