By Modupe Gbadeyanka

About N16 million business grant has been given to 30 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by Unity Bank Plc.

The funding support was awarded to the 30 young entrepreneurs in the bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge in Cross River, Niger, Abuja, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa, Anambra, and Lagos States.

The beneficiaries received the grant after developing innovative solutions across various business value chains, including fashion design, bag making, pastry making, event management, beauty, vegetable farming, and more.

They participated in a business pitch competition held recently for Batch A Stream 2 across 10 NYSC Orientation Camps.

Over the past six years, the Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has become an integral part of the NYSC programme, aligning with the federal government’s commitment to upskilling fresh graduates amid the growing dearth of white-collar jobs.

The programme attracts thousands of applications from serving NYSC corps members, whose business plans are evaluated for originality, marketability, employability potential, and overall business acumen.

At the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Lagos State, corps member Adeniyi Stephen Gbemininyi, who pitched a fashion design business, emerged as the overall winner, clinching the N800,000 grand prize.

Kolawole Opeoluwa Darasimi, a budding bag maker, won a N500,000 grant, while Johnson Elizabeth Ene received a N300,000 grant to support her cake and pastry business.

Across the remaining nine states, 27 other winners also emerged after pitching business plans in diverse sectors such as fish production, poultry farming, fashion, soap and cake making, printing, piggery, beverage production, and more.

“At Unity Bank, we believe that empowering young people to shape Nigeria’s economic future must be supported to provide longer-term sustainability.

“Through the Corpreneurship Challenge, we are not just providing funding, but nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs equipped with the skills, resources, and confidence to create jobs and transform communities.

“The success stories we see year after year reaffirm our commitment to youth empowerment and SME development,” the Divisional Head for Retail and SME at Unity Bank, Mrs Adenike Abimbola, said.

“The overwhelming interest and high quality of business ideas we receive in every edition demonstrate the incredible potential among Nigeria’s youth. We are proud to partner with the NYSC SAED to make these dreams a reality,” she added.

The Corpreneurship Challenge has earned Unity Bank national recognition for its contribution to youth empowerment and job creation, attracting over 2,000 applicants per edition.

In partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, the initiative features a business pitch competition that allows participants to present their business plans and win grants of up to N800,000.

So far, Unity Bank has invested over N100 million in the initiative, producing over 160 winners since its launch in 2019.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified recent speculations regarding charges related to the newly launched Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) platform.

The apex bank affirmed that there were no hidden fees and that the BVN enrolment for Nigerians residing within the country remains entirely free of charge.

According to the bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Ali, the fee referenced in the reports circulating online applies solely to the recently launched Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) initiative, a service designed specifically for Nigerians living in the Diaspora.

According to her, the nominal charge of approximately $50 is not a fee for obtaining a BVN, but rather a recoverable processing cost for remote biometric and due diligence verification.

The cost, she noted, covers secure identity authentication, data handling, and technology infrastructure required to support the overseas enrolment process.

“Nigerians in the Diaspora previously paid $200. The associated fee of $50 is strictly a processing charge for remote verification and not a payment for the BVN itself,” she stated, adding that “the NRBVN system is a voluntary, secure and convenient solution for Nigerians in the diaspora,” she said.

She further described the reports circulating on social media as suggesting the imposition of new or excessive charges on Nigerians as inaccurate and misleading, and advised that they should be disregarded.

She added that the NRBVN is more than just a one-time initiative; it forms the foundation of the Bank’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at improving and expanding access to financial services for Nigerians globally.

The NRBVN platform, launched in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), marked a transformative step in enabling Nigerians living overseas to obtain a Bank Verification Number (BVN) remotely.

With the system, Nigerians can access banking services from anywhere, saving time and travel costs while ensuring safe and secure transactions.

The NRBVN solution eliminates barriers by providing a faster, more efficient alternative that aligns with global best practices in digital identity management.

She urged the public to verify all information related to the NRBVN through the CBN and NIBSS’ official communication channels.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

An opportunity has opened for Nigerians living in the United States of America (USA) to obtain their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and National Identity Numbers (NINs).

Zenith Bank Plc is providing a platform to enrol for these two important items needed to operate a bank account and get the accounts verified and working efficiently.

The Nigerian lender, in a message sighted by Business Post, is allowing Nigerians in the Uncle Sam’s country to enrol for the BVN and NIN in four major cities; Los Angeles, Atlanta, Maryland, and New York.

At the designated centres, Nigerians living in the US can also open Zenith Bank accounts and enjoy mortgages at concessionary rates.

It was disclosed that in Los Angeles, these benefits can be enjoyed at Jesus Embassy on 442 E ElSegundo Blvd on July 12, 14, and 15, 2025, from 9am to 5pm.

In Atlanta, it is at Hampton Inn of Norcross on 5655, Jimmy Carter Blvd on July from 17 to 19, 2025, from 9am to 5pm, and in Maryland, these services will be offered at Marriot Hotel on 10101 Grand Central Avenue, Owings Mills on July 21 and 22, 2025, from 9am to 5pm.

Further, at the New York centre, Nigerians can head to Hampton Inn NY-JFK on 144-10 135th Avenue, Jamaica on July 25 and 26, 2025, from 9am to 5pm.