The Kwara State Entrepreneurship Expo concluded on Monday with the state government empowering fifteen outstanding student business creators with start-up funds after a competitive pitching session that attracted hundreds of entries from across the state. The event, held in commemoration of the 2025 International Students’ Day, showcased the rising interest of young people in business development, innovation, digital services and financial literacy as tools for economic growth and social advancement.
The Expo, organised by the Office of the Special Assistant on Students Affairs, drew 582 student entrepreneurs hoping to secure support for their ventures. After a rigorous screening process, fifteen finalists advanced to the final stage with pitches spanning fashion creations, solar-powered sunpod systems, fishery farming, web hosting services, food delivery, event management, bakery operations, poultry enterprises and other creative and technology-driven ideas. The top prize went to a student of the University of Ilorin whose beans delivery business earned the judges’ highest score, receiving one million naira to scale her operation. The first and second runners-up received eight hundred thousand naira and six hundred thousand naira respectively, while the remaining finalists were awarded two hundred and fifty thousand naira each to expand their ventures.
The state government described the Expo as part of a long-term plan to support innovation and empower young people with practical opportunities beyond classroom learning. A representative of the governor said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to building a Kwara where every young person has a fair chance to succeed regardless of socio-economic background. He added that the volume of applications demonstrates the creativity, determination and enterprise that have become defining traits of Kwara’s student population.
He said the International Students’ Day is a reminder of the resilience and vast potential of students globally, adding that Kwara marks the occasion by investing directly in the ideas and ambitions of its young people. He highlighted the administration’s six-year effort to reposition education and youth development through school infrastructure upgrades, merit-based teacher recruitment, bursaries, scholarships, safety improvements and digital literacy programs designed to expand access to quality learning and practical skills.
Government representatives, members of the state legislature, student leaders and youth groups attended the ceremony, describing the Expo as a timely platform that aligns with the needs of young people who increasingly view entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic independence. They noted that the state’s investments in technology, education and skill-based initiatives have helped young innovators create sustainable ventures capable of contributing to Kwara’s economy.
The organisers said the programme was created to identify student entrepreneurs already running small businesses and provide them with the tools and support required to grow. They explained that the initiative mirrors the shared vision within the state leadership, which places high value on innovation, problem-solving and enterprise development. They emphasised that student development in Kwara now goes beyond classroom instruction to nurturing young minds capable of creating solutions, generating employment and contributing to a more resilient economy.
At the event, the education ministry reiterated that tertiary institutions across the state have undergone major improvements, including new classroom blocks, ICT upgrades and renovated laboratories. These changes, they said, have helped create a more conducive environment for learning and practical innovation, with education increasingly serving as a life-changing tool for young people and a foundation for broader social and economic development.
The keynote speaker urged students to embrace creativity, begin their business journeys early and build strong financial literacy skills that will help them manage and sustain their ventures. He described branding as a critical part of business identity and noted that many young entrepreneurs focus heavily on building business structures without fully understanding their brand promise or market positioning.
The overall winner of the Expo expressed gratitude for the grant, describing it as a major opportunity to expand her food delivery initiative and inspire other students to pursue entrepreneurship. She said the platform has given her renewed confidence and affirmed the value of youth-led innovation in driving economic growth.
