N2.3m investment prizes won at ABU ICERFE student enterprise competition
A total of N2,250,000 was won at the International Centre of Excellence for Rural Finance and Entrepreneurship (ICERFE) Student Enterprise Pitch competition.
The competition, ‘ICERFE Student Enterprise Pitch 2.0’, was held at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria on Saturday, 6th September, 2025.
The event saw participation from over 300 student-led enterprise teams.
Of the number, 20 teams were selected for the UNDP Cohort 1 with the top 10 advancing to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges.
The investment prizes were substantial with Beacon Aromatics winning the first position with N1million.
The second prize went to Miemie’s Wears with N750,000 while PathPilot received N500,000 for clinching the third position.
Additionally, certificates were awarded to seven other winners with each receiving N200,000 to support their ventures.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, commended ICERFE for the initiative.
Prof Ahmed, who was represented by the Director, Distance Learning Centre, Prof M B Mua’zu, also lauded the participating students for their efforts.
In his address of welcome, the Director, ICERFE, Ahmadu Bello University, Dr Idris Bashir Bugaje, encouraged students to prioritize entrepreneurship.
Dr Bugaje congratulated the winners, saying the prize money would serve as seed funding.
The winners, according to him, would be consistently monitored by ICERFE to ensure that the funds were judiciously utilized to further develop the business concept.
Mr. Hamma Bala Francis, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Charis Trading Floor Ltd, urged students to rethink how education shaped their future.
Francis, who gave the keynote address at the event, explained that the current system often trained students for job-seeking rather than job-creation.
The keynote address speaker described the traditional 9 to 5 job as a modern day slavery.
According to him, the easiest way students could achieve this was to develop a strong desire in something they had interest in.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Director, ICERFE, Dr Hamisu Mohammed Ya’u, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for giving the centre the mandate and financial support to organise the event.
Dr Ya’u also thanked the keynote address speaker, the panel of judges, and all other dignitaries that witnessed the competition.
……………………………………..
Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NAM)
Monday, 22nd September, 2025
