The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opened applications for NANSInnovate 2026, a national entrepreneurship programme offering student entrepreneurs access to mentorship, investors and business funding.
The initiative, organised under the leadership of NANS National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, is targeted at Nigerian students who are already running businesses or have viable ideas they want to develop.
The programme will culminate in a national pitch competition involving the top 20 student entrepreneurs, who will compete for business funding worth millions of naira.
Afeez said the initiative was designed to address the difficulty many young Nigerians face in turning promising ideas into sustainable businesses because of limited access to funding and opportunities.
“Across our campuses are brilliant young Nigerians with ideas that can solve problems, create jobs and build successful businesses. Unfortunately, many of these ideas never go beyond the classroom because of limited opportunities and access to funding,” he said.
He described NANSInnovate 2026 as the association’s response to that challenge, saying it would provide a platform for student entrepreneurs to connect with investors, business leaders and industry experts.
The programme is open to Nigerian citizens currently enrolled in recognised universities, polytechnics or colleges of education across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Applicants can participate with either an existing business or a business idea.
A valid student identity card is required, while applicants must also submit a business proposal in Microsoft Word format.
The proposal must not exceed 10 pages and must be prepared using Times New Roman, 12-point font and single-line spacing. The document must not exceed 5MB.
Students with CAC or SMEDAN certificates can submit them, although the certificates are optional.
Four categories open to applicants
NANSInnovate 2026 accepts entries under four business categories:
- Production/Manufacturing
- Trading/Merchandise
- Services
- Agriculture
Applicants must select the category that best fits their business and indicate whether they are submitting an existing venture or a new business idea.
How to apply
Interested students can apply through the official NANSInnovate application portal.
Applicants will first provide their personal and school information before entering details about their businesses.
They will then upload their student ID and business proposal and submit a 100-word pitch explaining what the business does, why it matters and how they intend to use the funding.
After completing the application, each applicant will receive a unique entry code. Students are advised to save or screenshot the code because it will be used to check the status of their applications.
NANS said the application is completely free and warned students against paying anyone in connection with the programme.
The association said anyone requesting money for entry should be treated as a scam and reported.
Beyond the funding opportunity, NANSInnovate 2026 will feature learning sessions, networking and mentorship, giving participants opportunities to interact with investors, industry leaders and other student entrepreneurs.
The programme will eventually narrow the field to 20 finalists for the national pitch competition.
Afeez urged eligible students to take advantage of the initiative, describing it as an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into viable businesses.
“The next great Nigerian business could begin here, and the next successful entrepreneur could be you,” he said.
