FG Rolls Out Entrepreneurship Certification Programme To Tackle Unemployment

The federal government has rolled out Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme to transform Nigerian students from job seekers into job creators.

The minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa, unveiled the programme in Abuja on Friday.

The 14 universities to offer EIBIC programme were selected from federal universities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

They are: University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University, Kano; Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto; University of Benin; University of Port Harcourt and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Others are University of Ibadan; University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and University of Abuja.

Alausa said the initiative marked a major shift in Nigeria’s education system toward entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise development.

The minister 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.

He explained that EIBIC was designed to embed entrepreneurship training across disciplines including engineering, medicine, law, sciences and the creative arts.

“Under the programme, students would acquire practical skills in innovation, business planning, financial literacy and venture development while still in school.

“EIBIC enables students to convert knowledge, talent and passion into viable enterprises even before graduation,” he said.