In the latest round of the Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge (the 27th edition), held in February 2026, a new cohort of young entrepreneurs emerged from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps. This initiative, a partnership between Unity Bank and the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, provides equity-free grants and mentorship to fresh graduates.
The Batch C, Stream 2 edition saw a significant focus on “real-sector” businesses, with winners pitching ideas in fashion, manufacturing, and agribusiness rather than pure software services.
1. Top Winners: February 2026 Cohort
The competition took place across 10 states, including Lagos, Rivers, Kwara, Abuja, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Plateau, Kaduna, and Delta.
2. The Impact: 2019 – 2026
Since its inception in 2019, the Corpreneurship Challenge has evolved from a pilot project into a nationwide incubator for young talent. By intervening at the “pre-seed” stage (immediately after graduation), Unity Bank helps bridge the “Valley of Death” where many viable business ideas fail due to lack of initial capital.
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Total Beneficiaries: 638 Entrepreneurs nationwide.
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Cumulative Grants: Over ₦300 million disbursed.
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SME pipeline: By funding these corps members, Unity Bank is essentially “de-risking” future SME loans by training graduates to be structure-ready.
3. Why it Matters: The Shrinking White-Collar Market
As Mrs. Adenike Abimbola (Divisional Head, Retail, SME & E-Business at Unity Bank) noted, the high quality of pitches reflects a shift in mindset.
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Job Creation: These “corpreneurs” are not just self-employed; they are being groomed to become job creators within the Nigerian SME ecosystem.
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Innovation & Resilience: The focus on local production (footwear, deodorants, fashion) aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to reduce import dependency.
“Many young Nigerians possess viable business ideas but lack the initial capital and support to bring them to life. The Corpreneurship Challenge was designed to bridge that gap at a critical stage of their lives.” — Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, Unity Bank Plc.
