Millions in Cash Prizes Offered as NANS Launches 2026 Entrepreneurship Grants
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opened applications for its 2026 entrepreneurship grant programme, NANSInnovate, offering cash prizes worth millions of naira to student business owners across the country, according to an announcement by NANS National President Akinteye Babatunde.
The initiative aims to bridge the funding and opportunity gap faced by young entrepreneurs in tertiary institutions. According to NANS, brilliant student ideas often fail to scale beyond the classroom due to a lack of access to financial backing and structured mentorship.
Eligibility Requirements and Designated Business Categories
Eligible applicants must be Nigerian citizens currently enrolled in a recognized university, polytechnic, or college of education located within any of the 36 states or the Federal Capital Territory. Participants can apply with either an existing business or a new business idea they intend to develop, as reported by Legit.ng.
The application process requires candidates to visit the official NANSInnovate portal at grants.nanshq.org and submit personal and institutional details. Applicants must select one of four designated business categories: Production/Manufacturing, Trading/Merchandise, Services, or Agriculture.
Strict Documentation and Pitch Submission Guidelines
Required documentation includes a valid student identity card—uploadable in JPG, PNG, or PDF format—and a comprehensive business proposal in Microsoft Word (.docx) format. According to programme guidelines reported by FirstDaily.ng, the proposal must not exceed 10 pages, must use Times New Roman size 12 font with single-line spacing, and must stay under 5MB in file size. While optional, applicants who possess Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) or Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) certificates may also submit them.
Candidates must additionally submit a concise 100-word business pitch explaining their venture, its importance, and their intended use of the grant funding. Upon successful submission, the portal generates a unique entry code, which NANS advises applicants to save or screenshot to check their application status.
Zero Application Fees and Warnings Against Scams
NANS has emphasized that the application is completely free of charge and warned students against making payments to anyone demanding fees in connection with the programme. Suspicious requests for payment should be reported as scams.
Mentorship Structure and the National Pitch Competition
The programme runs for one week, incorporating learning sessions, networking opportunities, and one-on-one mentorship with industry leaders and investors. The initiative culminates in a national pitch competition where the top 20 finalists will compete for cash prizes worth millions of naira to support and expand their enterprises.
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