Student entrepreneurs at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have received a combined ₦2.25 million in seed investments at the ICERFE Student Enterprise Pitch 2.0, held on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
The initiative, organized by the International Centre of Excellence for Rural Finance and Entrepreneurship (ICERFE), attracted more than 300 entries from student-led ventures. After a rigorous screening process, 20 teams were admitted into the UNDP Cohort 1, with 10 finalists advancing to the live pitch before a panel of judges.
Beacon Aromatics clinched the top spot and walked away with the ₦1 million grand prize. Miemie’s Wears earned ₦750,000 as runner-up, while PathPilot secured ₦500,000 in third place. Seven additional finalists were awarded ₦200,000 each, along with certificates of recognition to support their business growth.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the university, Prof. M. B. Mua’zu, Director of the Distance Learning Centre, conveyed the message of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed, who applauded ICERFE for driving entrepreneurship and commended the students’ ingenuity.
Dr. Idris Bashir Bugaje, ICERFE Director, emphasized that the prize funds would act as startup capital and promised close monitoring to ensure accountability and impact.
In his keynote, Mr. Hamma Bala Francis, CEO of Charis Trading Floor Ltd, urged students to break free from conventional career mindsets, describing the country’s overreliance on white-collar jobs as “modern-day slavery.” He encouraged young people to focus on building businesses rather than waiting for employment.
The event concluded with appreciation from Dr. Hamisu Mohammed Ya’u, ICERFE Deputy Director, who thanked the university leadership, judges, and participants for making the competition a success.
The pitch contest forms part of ICERFE’s broader mission to foster creativity, strengthen enterprise development, and empower Nigerian students to combat unemployment through innovation.
