Unity Bank Plc has awarded over N270 million in grants to youth corps members under its Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, the Corpreneurship Challenge, supporting the creation and growth of viable businesses across Nigeria. Since its launch in 2019, about 608 National Youth Service Corps members have benefited from the programme.
The Corpreneurship Challenge, implemented in partnership with the NYSC through its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, is designed to equip fresh graduates with the funding, mentorship, and confidence needed to launch sustainable enterprises.
In the most recent edition, held between 18 November and 9 December 2025 across 10 NYSC orientation camps, 30 corps members emerged as winners during Batch C, Stream I. The latest beneficiaries were selected after pitching innovative business ideas across sectors ranging from agribusiness and fashion to food processing, creative services, manufacturing, and retail. Orientation camps involved included Lagos, Delta, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kwara, Enugu, Abia, the Federal Capital Territory, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau.
Speaking on the initiative, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail & SME, Mrs Adenike Abimbola, highlighted the bank’s commitment to leveraging entrepreneurship as a tool to tackle youth unemployment and drive inclusive economic growth. She noted that the programme not only provides financial support but also instills confidence in graduates to turn ideas into viable businesses.
Abimbola stressed the programme’s broader impact on Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem. “Small and medium-scale enterprises are the backbone of any resilient economy. By supporting corps members at the earliest stage of their entrepreneurial journey, we are helping to build businesses that create jobs, stimulate local economies, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
The Corpreneurship Challenge provides a competitive platform where participants are assessed on originality, feasibility, market demand, scalability, and job-creation potential. Successful corps members receive grants to kick-start or expand their ventures, alongside mentorship and business guidance.
Since inception, the initiative has fostered youth-led enterprises across Nigeria, strengthening the pipeline of small businesses that contribute to job creation and economic development.
