OAU, UNN Grads Sweep Unity Bank Entrepreneurship Awards

By Love Oyedokun

Unity Bank Plc has officially crowned the latest winners of its flagship Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, the Corpreneurship Challenge. The winners emerged following a series of competitive business pitches held during the NYSC Batch C, Stream 2 orientation programme across 10 states.

Cablenews24 reports that the 27th edition of the challenge saw a diverse group of fresh graduates from prestigious institutions—including Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and The Polytechnic, Ibadan—securing seed capital for their ventures. The pitches spanned vital economic sectors, including fashion, agribusiness, footwear manufacturing, and specialized services.

The Winners’ Circle

At the Lagos State Orientation Camp, Awolumate Fawaz Babatunde, a Civil Engineering graduate from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, took home the N800,000 grand prize for his innovative fashion design business. He was followed by first runner-up Ugwoke Daniel Ifechukwu (UNN), who received N500,000.

In Rivers State, OAU graduate Abdur-Razaq Sayfullah Adebola impressed judges at the Nonwa Gbam Tai camp with his footwear production plan to claim the top spot. Meanwhile, in Kwara State, Olatunde Esther Funmilayo of Olabisi Onabanjo University secured her win with a pitch centered on deodorant production and services.

Additional winners were announced in Abuja, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Plateau, Kaduna, and Delta, highlighting the initiative’s nationwide impact.

Speaking on the success of the programme, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head of Retail, SME & E-Business, emphasized the bank’s dedication to fostering youth enterprise.

“The Corpreneurship Challenge is driven by our commitment to boosting entrepreneurship among fresh graduates,” Abimbola stated. “We recognize that many young Nigerians have brilliant ideas but lack the capital to launch them. This initiative bridges that gap by providing financial backing and mentorship at a pivotal moment in their careers.”

She noted that the high quality of the presentations reflects a growing entrepreneurial spirit among Nigerian youth. “By supporting these innovators early, we are not just helping individuals; we are strengthening the SME ecosystem and the broader national economy.”

Launched in partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) directorate, the Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has become a cornerstone of the NYSC experience. To date, the programme has:

• Produced 638 successful entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
• Disbursed over N300 million in grants to help Corps Members scale their businesses.

As white-collar jobs become increasingly scarce, Unity Bank’s initiative aligns with federal goals to promote self-employment. The bank remains committed to expanding this programme to drive financial inclusion, job creation, and sustainable economic growth across the federation.

About Cablenews24:
CableNews24 is a digital multimedia news platform featuring online news channel and a digital newspaper, covering Breaking News,  featuring articles on politics, technology, and general news.  We’re your trusted companion in navigating today’s fast-paced world, delivering everything you need to stay connected. From local happenings to global events, we deliver news that matters…Join the CableNews24 experience – where news meets convenience.

CableNews24 – News, Anytime, Anywhere.

For Advertisement, Event Coverage/MC, Public Relations, Story/Article Publication, and other Media Services, kindly send an email to: cablenews24.com@gmail.com OR Kindly call: 08023535955 . To stay updated with the latest news stories, kindly visit cablenews24.com published by AAAANDREL GLOBAL SERVICES