NANS Opens Applications for 2026 Innovation Competition

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its innovation and entrepreneurship competition, NANSInnovate 2026.

The initiative is aimed at supporting Nigerian students with business ideas and existing ventures by providing access to investors, industry experts and funding opportunities.

The NANS National President, Comrade Akinteye Afeez, popularly known as BABTEE, announced the opening of applications in a statement, on Monday, urging students across the country to take advantage of the programme.

Afeez said the initiative was designed to address the challenges faced by young Nigerians whose innovative ideas often fail to progress beyond the classroom due to limited opportunities and access to funding.

“Across our campuses are brilliant young Nigerians with ideas that can solve problems, create jobs and build successful businesses. Unfortunately, many of these ideas never go beyond the classroom because of limited opportunities and access to funding,” he said.

READ ALSO: 12 Things To Know About National Association Of Nigerian Students, NANS

According to him, NANSInnovate 2026 will provide a national platform to identify and support promising student entrepreneurs.

“NANSInnovate 2026 is our response to that challenge. We are providing a national platform where innovation will be rewarded, creativity will be encouraged and promising student entrepreneurs will receive the support they need to grow,” Afeez said.

He called on Nigerian students with business ideas or existing ventures to participate in the competition, describing it as an opportunity to pitch their ideas to investors, business leaders and industry experts.

“At the end of the competition, the top 20 student entrepreneurs will go home with cash prizes worth millions of naira to support and expand their businesses,” he said.

The NANS president said the competition was open to eligible students nationwide and urged them to register for the initiative.

“The next great Nigerian business could begin here, and the next successful entrepreneur could be you,” Afeez said.

Interested students can register through the NANS innovation platform at https://grants.nanshq.org.