Banking
30 Win N10m in Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Business grants worth N10 million have been given to 30 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by Unity Bank Plc.
The funds were shared to the corps members by the lender through its flagship business plan competition known as Corpreneurship Challenge, which is in its 6th edition.
The Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has been an avenue to support the fresh graduates from the various tertiary institutions across the country serving their fatherland.
Unity Bank is currently in 10 states of the federation where three winners each emerged from the Batch B Orientation. The winners emerged last week from Lagos, Ogun, Benin, Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Sokoto, Enugu, Osun and Kwara States.
As in the previous editions, the cash prizes included a N200,000 business grant for third place winners; a N300,000 business grant for second place and a star prize of N500,000 for the winners.
Some of the winners included Yahaya Muhammad, Alade Ayinde and Omolola Kehinde in the Kano NYSC camp, while Chiamaka Nweke, Nduke Oduobuk and Victoria Adesope emerged as the winners in the Enugu State camp.
In Lagos, Aliu Haira Abimbola, Uzoechi Ihuoma Augustus and Adesanolu Lukmon Abiodun emerged winners to claim the cash prizes.
One of the winners in Abuja, Ebingha Ogbe John appreciated Unity Bank for the opportunity, saying the initiative has helped her to showcase her business to the world.
“I thank Unity Bank for making my project, Mama’s Ally Crashfish to come alive in this Abuja,” she said.
The scheme continues to attract increasing interest among the corps members, as over 2000 applications were received but only 100 were shortlisted for the pitching sessions where the thirty winners emerged.
The contestants’ business plans which ranged from software solutions, fashion, fish production, poultry farming, bee farming, retail chains, piggery to beverages were assessed on originality, marketability, future employability potential of the product and knowledge of the business.
Speaking during the finale in the FCT NYSC camp, the Divisional Head, Retail, SME Banking and E-Business Directorate, Unity Bank Plc, Mr Olufunwa Akinmade, said the competition has proved to be a great tool for empowering fresh graduates in the country.
“The corpreneurship challenge is a creative entrepreneurial development initiative by Unity Bank in conjunction with the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. It is aimed at driving job creation through entrepreneurship.
“With rising youth unemployment in the country, it is just common sense to consider the entrepreneurship alternative”
“As the corps members join the labour market after their youth service, not every one of them will get the opportunity for a paid employment. But with what Unity Bank is doing, many of them will get the support they need to start a small business and even become employers of labour.
“We encourage the corps members to take seriously the opportunity that the Unity Bank Corpreneurship has provided. And to those that have emerged as the winners today, we ask them to utilise their grants judiciously. Unity Bank remains committed to empowering the youth through initiatives such as this, as we know that the bedrock of the economy is entrepreneurship,” he said.
The Zonal Head, North West, Unity Bank Plc, Mr Mustapha Idris Baba, implored the winners to judiciously utilise the funds to support the business venture that got them the grant.
This edition follows the expanded Corpreneurship Challenge which started in the 5th edition in June this year. The programme looks set to expand nationwide, empowering corps members to explore entrepreneurship alternatives in the face of rising youth unemployment in the country.
Recall that Unity Bank started the Entrepreneurial Development Initiative in 2019, to specifically target corps members, as part of efforts to contribute to job creation in Nigeria. It continues to gain traction, growing bigger and better in grooming corps members having successfully run several editions of the scheme in partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED).
Unity Bank has invested over N80 million in the initiative, which has now produced 58 winners since it was launched.
By Dipo Olowookere
Tech enthusiasts interested in participating in the Take on Squad Hackathon, organised by Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, can now enter the contest via the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
The programme enters its third edition in 2026, and the theme for this year is Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy, according to a statement issued by the organisers.
The hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors, including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion.
Participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
It is part of the organisation’s commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
“Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve.
“Through Take on Squad Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future.
“Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact.
“This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress,” the Managing Director of HabariPay, Ms Eduofon Japhet, stated.
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
By Dipo Olowookere
Banking services will not be interrupted throughout the Easter public holidays, from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6, 2026, for any reason, Ecobank Nigeria has assured its customers.
In a message over the weekend, the member of Africa’s leading pan-African banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, said customers would continue to enjoy quality service delivery during the period.
It noted that its secure and robust digital platforms would remain fully operational to support financial activities during the festive period.
All digital channels, including the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Business App, USSD *326#, Ecobank Online, OmniPlus, Omnilite, EcobankPay, Ecobank Cards, ATMs, PoS terminals, and over 35,000 Ecobank Xpress Point agent locations nationwide, will remain accessible throughout the holiday, the financial institution further said, urging customers to conveniently conduct transactions at any time using this wide range of digital solutions.
Ecobank customers were encouraged to maximise the bank’s alternative channels for transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, card services, and account management.
They were also advised to stay vigilant by shopping only on trusted websites; avoiding the sharing of PINs, passwords, and one-time passwords (OTPs); refraining from banking on public Wi-Fi networks; being cautious of urgent or emotionally charged messages; and regularly monitoring their account activity.
“Customers will continue to enjoy a full bouquet of services during the holiday, including local and international funds transfers, bill payments, airtime top-ups, merchant payments, balance enquiries, account statements, and cardless cash withdrawals via ATMs,” the Head of Products & Analytics, Consumer & Commercial Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Victor Yalokwu, stated.
“We understand that festive seasons come with increased financial activity, and our priority is to ensure our customers enjoy fast, reliable, and secure banking wherever they are.
“Our digital channels are designed to support uninterrupted transactions, and we have strengthened our systems to guarantee optimal performance throughout the Easter break,” he added.
Mr Yalokwu noted that, “Ecobank remains committed to providing innovative financial solutions and exceptional customer service. We wish all our customers and partners a peaceful and joyful Easter celebration.”
By Dipo Olowookere
Customers may have difficulty accessing the digital platform of Polaris Bank, known as VULTe, during the Easter holidays from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6, 2026.
This is because the financial institution is carrying out system maintenance on the platform in its effort to ensure users enjoy a better banking experience.
In a notice over the weekend, the lender said “access to VULTe may be limited,” but it provided an alternative, which is the PolarisXperience.
Polaris Bank, which expressed regret over “any inconvenience” this action may cause its customers, said the “scheduled system maintenance” would happen from 10 pm to 8 am daily, promising that normal service would return after the maintenance.
“In continuation of our commitment to delivering a seamless and improved banking experience, we will be conducting a scheduled system maintenance during the Easter holidays.
“During this period, access to VULTe may be limited. We have provided an alternative channel, PolarisXperience:
“Please go to our website to onboard or use it as an existing user. You can also use this link: (https://elogin.polarisbanklimited.com).
“We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Normal service will resume after the maintenance,” parts of the notice seen by Business Post read.
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