NANS 2026 Business Grant Program for Nigerian Students

NANS 2026 Business Grant Program for Nigerian Students

Applications are open for the NANSInnovate 2026 Business Grant Program, a nationwide entrepreneurship initiative organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for students building businesses or developing viable business ideas while studying in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The programme will bring student entrepreneurs together with investors, mentors and industry leaders for entrepreneurship development, networking and mentorship, culminating in a national pitch competition where 20 finalists will compete for business funding.

About NANSInnovate 2026

NANSInnovate 2026 is the flagship National Entrepreneurship & Business Summit of the National Association of Nigerian Students.

The programme is designed to identify promising student entrepreneurs across Nigeria, provide them with business development support and give outstanding participants an opportunity to secure funding for their ventures.

The programme includes:

• Entrepreneurship and business development activities
• Mentorship from experienced professionals
• Networking with investors and industry leaders
• Opportunities to connect with other student entrepreneurs
• National business pitch competition
• Business funding for outstanding ideas and ventures

Following the application and selection process, the Top 20 finalists will be invited to pitch their businesses at the national level.

About the National Association of Nigerian Students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is a national umbrella body representing Nigerian students across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.

NANSInnovate is organised by NANS Headquarters as an entrepreneurship-focused initiative aimed at discovering and supporting student-led businesses across the country.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

• Be Nigerian citizens
• Be currently enrolled in a recognised Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education
• Be studying in any of Nigeria’s 36 states or the FCT
• Have an existing business or a viable business idea they intend to develop
• Possess a valid and current student ID card
• Prepare and submit a business proposal
• Complete all required sections of the application

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There is no application fee.

Eligible Business Categories

Applications are accepted in four broad categories:

• Production/Manufacturing
• Trading/Merchandise
• Services
• Agriculture

Both students who already operate businesses and those with viable ideas they want to launch can apply.

Benefits

Selected participants will have access to:

• Opportunity to compete for business funding
• Mentorship and business guidance
• Networking with investors and industry leaders
• Entrepreneurship learning and development
• Exposure for promising student-led businesses
• Opportunity to participate in the national summit
• National pitch opportunity for the Top 20 finalists

Required Documents
Applicants should prepare:

• Valid student ID card
• Business proposal
• 100-word business pitch
• CAC or SMEDAN certificate, if available

CAC or SMEDAN registration is optional and is not listed as a compulsory requirement.

Business Proposal Requirements

The proposal must meet the following specifications:

• Microsoft Word (.docx) format
• Maximum of 10 pages
• Times New Roman
• Font size 12
• Single-line spacing
• Maximum file size of 5MB

The proposal should clearly explain the business or proposed venture and provide the information necessary for the organisers to evaluate it.

How to Apply

Applicants should:

• Prepare their student ID and business proposal.
• Complete the online application with their personal, school and business information.
• Select the appropriate business category.
• Upload the required documents.
• Write a 100-word pitch explaining the business, the problem it addresses and how the funding would be used.
• Submit the application and save the unique application code generated by the portal.

The application code can be used to check the status of the submission later.

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Selection and National Pitch

Applications will be reviewed to identify promising student entrepreneurs. The Top 20 finalists will progress to the national pitch stage, where they will present their businesses for an opportunity to receive funding.

Apply Here

Deadline: 8 September 2026