Call for Applications: NANSInnovate 2026 – National Entrepreneurship Summit for Nigerian Students

Application Deadline: Ongoing

About the Summit

NANSInnovate 2026 is a national summit organised by the NANS Headquarters under the leadership of Comr. Akinteye Afeez (BABTEE) to find and support the students already running businesses across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. A lot of students are quietly building real businesses on the side. This is a chance to bring them into one room with investors, mentors, and industry leaders and let the best ideas compete for actual funding to grow. The programme runs for a week learning, networking, mentorship. It ends with a national pitch competition where the top 20 student entrepreneurs compete for transparent funding to grow their businesses.

Eligibility Criteria

You need to meet all of these to enter:

• Currently enrolled Nigerian student – At any recognised university, polytechnic, or college of education in Nigeria
• A business idea or existing venture – Either something you already run, or a solid idea you want to launch
• Valid student ID card – Current, not expired. Any format (JPG, PNG, or PDF)
• Business proposal document – Word format (.docx), max 10 pages. Nothing fancy — just clear and complete
• Nigerian citizen – From any of the 36 states or the FCT
• No fees, no payments – Entry is completely free. If anyone asks you to pay for anything — it’s a scam. Report them.

Key Details:

• Top 20 Finalists Pitch on stage for business funding
• Open to: 36 states + FCT
• Cost: Free (no fees)
• Entries Received: 729 (and counting)

What Participants Gain

• National Pitch: Top 20 finalists pitch on stage for business funding
• Networking: Meet investors, industry leaders, and other student founders
• Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from people who’ve built businesses
• Funding: Transparent prizes for the strongest business ideas

Business Categories

Your business must fit into one of these categories:

• Production/Manufacturing
• Trading/Merchandise
• Service
• Agriculture

How to Enter

Step 1: Get Your Documents Ready
School ID (photo or PDF), business proposal (.docx), and optionally your CAC or SMEDAN certificate if you have one.

Step 2: Fill the Entry Form
Personal details, school info, business info. Pick your business category and whether it’s new or existing.

Step 3: Upload Your Files
Drag and drop, or click to browse. We accept JPG, PNG, PDF for IDs and .docx for the proposal.

Step 4: Write Your Pitch (100 words)
Short and honest. What’s the business, why does it matter, what will you do with the funding?

Step 5: Submit and Save Your Code
You’ll get a code like NANS-Inv-2026-K7T. Screenshot it — that’s how you check your status later.

Business Proposal Requirements

• Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) only
• Length: Max 10 pages
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12
• Spacing: Single line
• Max size: 5MB

How to Apply

Application Link: Click here