In a country where youth unemployment remains a pressing concern, a growing number of young Nigerians are finding new hope — not in job applications, but in entrepreneurship. One programme leading that charge is Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge, a bold initiative that is quietly transforming National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps into breeding grounds for future CEOs.
Since its launch, the initiative has supported 578 young entrepreneurs nationwide, giving them not only access to startup capital but also the training, mentorship, and confidence to build thriving ventures.
NYSC Camps Become Innovation Hubs
The Corpreneurship Challenge takes an unconventional route — it meets young people right where they are: the NYSC orientation camps. What began as a small project to test youth business ideas has now grown into a movement that identifies and funds promising ventures before the corps members even complete their service year.
At the latest edition, held across 10 states, including Lagos, Delta, and Kaduna, 30 corps members walked away with a total of ₦16 million in grants after pitching innovative business ideas ranging from fashion and food processing to agribusiness and manufacturing.
Soap Maker Wins Big — And Inspires Others
Among the winners was Fiyinfoluwa Titilayo Ojo, whose soap-making startup earned her the ₦800,000 grand prize at the Lagos camp. For Ojo, the competition was more than a financial boost — it was validation that her craft could become a scalable business.
“This has changed everything for me,” she said. “I’ve learned to see my business differently — not just as a hobby, but as a brand that can grow and employ others.”
Other winners, such as Ndukwe Chiamaka Joan and Barakat Modinat Olamide, secured ₦500,000 and ₦300,000 respectively for their culinary and beverage ventures. Across the remaining states, additional grants went to corps members in poultry, fish farming, cake production, printing, and more — showing the diversity and creativity of Nigeria’s youth.
Building a Generation of Job Creators
Behind the initiative is Unity Bank’s vision to shift the national narrative — from one of job scarcity to one of enterprise. The programme’s Divisional Head of Retail and SME Banking, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, said the Corpreneurship Challenge is designed to help corps members transition from “job seekers to job creators.”
“We see entrepreneurship as a powerful tool for national transformation,” Abimbola explained. “Young Nigerians are bursting with ideas, and what they need is support, structure, and mentorship. That’s what this challenge provides.”
With over 578 young entrepreneurs already empowered, Unity Bank plans to scale up the initiative, creating a wider ripple effect in Nigeria’s small business ecosystem.
A Shift in Youth Empowerment Strategy
While many empowerment programmes focus on training without capital, the Corpreneurship Challenge integrates both — offering hands-on business coaching and immediate funding to help corps members hit the ground running. The result is a new generation of youth-led enterprises that are proving that financial inclusion can start from the NYSC camp.
As Nigeria continues to search for sustainable solutions to unemployment, Unity Bank’s approach may offer a roadmap — one that transforms service camps into startup incubators and young graduates into the next wave of entrepreneurs driving local innovation and national development.
