The Federal Government has launched the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme, a major reform designed to reposition Nigeria’s higher education system toward innovation, enterprise development and job creation. Unveiled in Abuja on Friday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, the initiative will initially be implemented in 14 federal universities, with plans to expand to all federal universities by 2027 and all federal tertiary institutions by 2028. Alausa described the initiative as a strategic response to declining traditional employment opportunities and the growing influence of technology across industries. 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 added, “If we do not prepare our young people adequately, we risk widening the gap between education and employability. EIBIC is therefore not just timely, but necessary.” According to the minister, the programme addresses the limitations of conventional entrepreneurship courses by embedding innovation and enterprise training across all disciplines, including engineering, medicine, law, sciences and the creative arts. Under the EIBIC framework, students will be introduced to entrepreneurship from their first year, develop intermediate skills at 200 and 300 levels, and progress to full business incubation and venture creation in their final year. “EIBIC enables students to convert knowledge, talent and passion into viable enterprises even before graduation,” he said. The pioneer universities selected for the rollout include the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos, Bayero University Kano, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ibadan, University of Maiduguri, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and the University of Abuja. Alausa directed Vice Chancellors of the participating institutions to secure Senate approval for full adoption of the programme before the end of April. “This is a directive I will not take lightly. We are in a hurry to deliver to our youths,” he said. The minister noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at strengthening STEMM education, promoting skills acquisition, and enhancing collaboration between academia and industry. To support student-led innovation, Alausa disclosed that the Federal Government recently introduced a Student Venture Capital Grant, which attracted over 36,000 applications nationwide, with 63 finalists set to receive funding. The programme is backed by the Bank of Industry, which has secured a $50 million grant for venture financing and is expected to provide up to ₦1 billion in low-interest credit to support student businesses. “Education is the bedrock of any society,” he said. “And today, we have a President who has given us every tool we need to transform it.” Stakeholders at the launch commended the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention to tackle youth unemployment and improve graduate employability. Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, described EIBIC as a structured pathway for producing job creators and aligning education with real-world economic demands. “It is about skills empowerment in entrepreneurship, innovation and business incubation,” he said.