Lagos, Nigeria – As part of efforts to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths, Union Bank has announced the call for entries to its 2018 Campus innovation Challenge, a competition open to students of tertiary institutions across the country.
The Campus Innovation Challenge which is being organised in collaboration with leading social incubation centre Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), aims to discover and support students with bright, innovative, technology-driven ideas that address social and business challenges
in the areas of agriculture, education, financial inclusion, millennial banking and creative arts.
During the entry period from 4th July to 5
th August 2018, ‘Ideas Sprint’ workshops will take place in 6 tertiary institutions across the country; University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Benin and Federal
University of Technology, Owerri. Students across Nigeria intending to submit entries are encouraged to participate in the workshop closest to them for guidance on how to articulate
their novel ideas into quality entries.
Speaking concerning the launch of the competition, the Head of Strategy and Innovation at Union Bank, Lola Cardoso said: “Union Bank has a rich and storied heritage as a trusted partner to generations of Nigerians; providing them with the necessary support they need to achieve their goals.
We believe that to create the prosperous Nigeria we all want and dream of, we must leverage innovation as a means of driving development and sustainable impact in the society.
It is against this backdrop that the Campus Innovation Challenge was launched to encourage and support the amazing potential which undeniably exists among the youths of this great nation.” Following the entry period, shortlisted applicants will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at a session where the top 3 winners will be selected. The top 3 ideas will receive
immediate cash funding of 1.5 Million Naira, 1 Million Naira and 500 Thousand Naira respectively towards creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for their ideas. They will also access a 6-month incubation programme with CcHub where they receive the necessary
support to birth their innovative ideas.
Union Bank remains focused on youth development and innovation. Last year, during its Centenary anniversary, the Bank organised the Centenary Innovation Challenge, to find and support innovative ideas that address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
entrepreneurial ways which enable economic and societal growth. Ized Uanikheli of Locitrax group emerged as the winner of the challenge and received the first prize award of N2 million (Two Million Naira) for her work on Biodegradeable Starch Bags.
With its focus set on the future, Union Bank continues to lead the way in shaping a better, more sustainable future for generations to come.
Visit https://www.unionbankng.com/campus-innovation-challenge/ for more details about the Campus Innovation Challenge and how to enter for the competition.