The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opened applications for NANS Innovate 2026, a student entrepreneurship and business funding programme created to support tertiary students who are building existing businesses and developing commercially viable ideas.
The initiative provides an opportunity for student entrepreneurs to gain access to business funding, mentorship, enterprise development and strategic networking, while giving promising student-led businesses a platform to pitch before industry professionals and potential investors.
NANS Innovate 2026 is targeted at students who are already running businesses or have viable commercial proposals. According to the programme information, shortlisted participants will go through a structured one-week virtual and hybrid programme covering areas such as mentorship, enterprise development and strategic networking.
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The programme will culminate in a national pitch event where 20 shortlisted student entrepreneurs will present their proposals before a panel of venture capital managers, corporate leaders and industry specialists for potential funding and operational support.
Who Can Apply?
Interested applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Be a bona fide student of a recognised tertiary institution in Nigeria or beyond.
- Have a valid school identification card.
- Be running an existing and registered business.
- Provide evidence of business registration through CAC or SMEDAN.
- The CAC or SMEDAN registration must have been obtained at least four months before the application date.
- Submit a viable business proposal in line with the programme requirements.
Eligible business ventures cover areas including:
- Agriculture
- Services
- Trading and Merchandise
- Production and Manufacturing
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Proposal Submission Requirements
Before applying, applicants should carefully prepare their business proposal because submissions must follow specific formatting requirements.
Your proposal must:
- Not exceed 10 pages.
- Be written in Times New Roman.
- Use font size 12.
- Use single-line spacing.
- Be submitted in Microsoft Word format.
Applicants should also have their valid school ID and evidence of business registration ready before beginning the application.
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View allHow the Selection Process Works
After submission, applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will shortlist outstanding proposals for the preliminary stages.
Applicants will receive a registration code after submitting their applications. This code will be used to check whether they have been shortlisted for the next stage.
Selected student entrepreneurs will proceed through the programme before the final pitch, where 20 shortlisted participants are expected to present their businesses and proposals before industry experts.
Application Period
- Application Opens: 10 August 2026
- Application Deadline: 8 September 2026
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How to Apply for NANS Innovate 2026
Interested and qualified tertiary students should submit their proposals through the NANS Innovate 2026 official application portal.
The NANS Innovate 2026 application is stated to be free of charge. Applicants should be careful not to pay individuals or unauthorised agents claiming to offer guaranteed selection, registration or funding.
Also, keep your registration code safe after submitting your application, as it will be important for tracking your application status.
If you are already running a registered business while studying, this could be an opportunity to gain exposure, mentorship and potential funding to take your venture to the next level.
You can also visit Dailylight Channel Graduate Jobs Section, Internship Program, Recruitment Exercises, and Job and Career Opportunity Desk Section to explore and discover opportunities you are qualified to apply for.
