By Aderonke Ojo
Beneficiaries of the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) Startup Pitch 1.0 have commended the Federal Government for its commitment to empowering young Nigerians through innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital development.
The initiative, jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and its technical partner, Sapphittal, aims to support young entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and access to digital tools needed to grow their businesses.
Speaking after receiving a grant under the programme, Oluyomi Ayomide Deborah, one of the beneficiaries, described the initiative as “a life-changing opportunity” that demonstrates the government’s commitment to the growth of youth-led businesses across Nigeria.
“This initiative by NiYA is very impactful. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It’s wonderful to see what the Nigerian government is doing for youth across the nation,” she said.
“It’s encouraging to see that they have decided to build up this beautiful initiative supporting startups across Nigeria, and I’m so happy to be a beneficiary.”
Deborah is the founder of Univille Nigeria Limited, a digital campus marketplace designed to bridge the gap between student vendors and buyers across universities.
She explained that the platform connects students who sell products or offer services—such as graphic design, software development, and fashion—to a wider university audience beyond their immediate circles.
“Most student vendors can only sell to classmates or friends, but Univille allows them to reach thousands of students across campuses. We’re starting from LAUTECH but plan to scale to other universities like the University of Abuja and the University of Lagos,” she said.
Deborah expressed optimism that the grant and mentorship provided through NiYA would help her team expand operations nationwide and empower more students to build sustainable businesses.
Another beneficiary, Joseph Bozimo, founder of Project Launchpad by IDB Analytics, described the programme as a breakthrough for young graduates seeking to transform academic ideas into viable enterprises.
Bozimo’s project, which operates in the education technology (Edutech) sector, focuses on helping graduates convert their research projects into market-ready products and services through digital innovation and mentorship.
“Over 600,000 graduates leave school every year without job opportunities. Project Launchpad is designed to help them turn their research work into real solutions that solve societal problems,” he explained.
“Our digital platform will help students identify real-world research topics aligned with government priorities. With AI-powered tools, we’ll refine those ideas, link them to mentors, and provide access to funding just like we experienced here today.”
He added that the platform encourages students across polytechnics, universities, and colleges of education to apply their skills toward innovation, regardless of their academic discipline.
“It doesn’t matter what you studied — linguistics, French, or engineering — as long as you’re solving a problem, there’s always a market for it,” Bozimo said.
Bozimo, who holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) and has worked consistently to develop his ideas since 2017, urged other young Nigerians to remain committed to their visions.
“Consistency is key. I’ve been doing this for years, and I can tell young people: keep at it. If I can do it, any student can. The Ministry has done well by supporting us, and I encourage them to continue,” he said.
Bozimo also emphasized the importance of business registration and compliance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), noting that Nigerian tax laws exempt businesses earning below ₦80 million annually from taxation.
Looking ahead, he said his startup plans to create at least 774 jobs across all local government areas in Nigeria, expanding operations as demand grows.
“As far as people are paying for the services, we’ll keep creating jobs. The goal is to build sustainable systems that outlive us,” he added.
The NiYA Startup Pitch 1.0 marks the beginning of a series of empowerment programmes designed to identify and support young Nigerian entrepreneurs. The next edition, NiYA Startup 2.0, is expected to focus on both male and female innovators, with increased funding and nationwide participation.