Nigerian students with business ideas or existing ventures can now apply for the 2026 NANSInnovate entrepreneurship programme and compete for cash prizes worth millions of naira.
The programme, organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students, is designed to support student entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, networking and business development opportunities.
NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, encouraged eligible students to submit their ideas or businesses for consideration.
The programme will culminate in a national pitch competition featuring the top 20 finalists, who will compete for the available cash prizes.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be Nigerian students currently enrolled in a recognised university, polytechnic or college of education.
Both students with existing businesses and those with viable business ideas are eligible to apply.
What You Need
Applicants need a valid student ID card and a business proposal prepared in Microsoft Word.
The proposal must not exceed 10 pages or 5MB, and should use Times New Roman, size 12, with single-line spacing.
CAC or SMEDAN certificates can also be submitted, but they are optional.
How to Apply
Interested students can apply through the NANSInnovate portal.
"Apply Here — NANSInnovate Grant Portal" (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/0)
Applicants will provide their personal and school information, select their business category and indicate whether they are applying with an existing business or a new idea.
Available categories include Production and Manufacturing, Trading and Merchandise, Services, and Agriculture.
Applicants must upload their documents and submit a 100-word business pitch explaining their idea, its importance and how they would use the funding.
Successful applicants will receive a unique entry code and are advised to save it for future reference.
Is It Free?
Yes. NANS says the application is completely free and has warned students against anyone demanding payment to access the programme.
What Do Winners Get?
Beyond the cash prizes, participants can benefit from mentorship, learning sessions, networking opportunities and exposure to investors and industry professionals.
The programme is aimed at helping promising student businesses move beyond the early stage and become sustainable ventures.
Application Deadline
NANS has opened applications, but no specific closing date was stated in the Punch report.
Eligible students should therefore apply early rather than wait until the programme deadline is announced.