Trade FM Unveils ₦2.25 Million Campus Business Challenge to Support Student Entrepreneurs Across Nigeria
Trade FM, a digital media platform focused on business intelligence and entrepreneurship, has launched a ₦2.25 million Campus Business Challenge to support student entrepreneurs in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The competition, which opens for entries on Thursday, October 9, 2026, will see three outstanding student business owners win ₦1 million, ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively. The entry window will close on October 22, 2026.
According to the organisers, the challenge is open to students aged 16 to 25 who run small-scale businesses while studying in any Nigerian tertiary institution. Beyond the cash prizes, the three final winners will also receive publicity and business features on Trade FM platforms.
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Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of Trade FM, Sharon Ijasan, said the competition is aimed at recognising young Nigerians who are already demonstrating entrepreneurial drive despite limited resources.
“Across our universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions, there are thousands of brilliant young Nigerians who are not waiting until graduation to become entrepreneurs. They are already building businesses, creating value, serving customers and contributing to the economy, often with very limited resources,” she said.
Ijasan noted that the initiative goes beyond celebrating young entrepreneurs, but is designed to give them visibility, encouragement and access to growth opportunities, while identifying promising student-led businesses and helping their founders advance their entrepreneurial journey.
“At Trade FM, we believe these young entrepreneurs deserve more than applause. They deserve visibility, encouragement and access to opportunities that can help their businesses grow. The Campus Business Challenge is our way of identifying promising student-owned businesses and giving their founders a meaningful opportunity to take their entrepreneurial journeys to the next level, she added.
How to Participate:
To participate, interested students are required to first complete a mandatory registration via: https://bit.ly/TRADEFMCAMPUSINESSCHALLENGE2026
Applicants must then create a 60-second video introducing themselves, their school and their business, explaining what the business does, why it was started, what makes it unique, and how the prize money will support its growth.
The video must be posted on Instagram or TikTok, with participants required to follow and tag @tradefmlive and use the hashtag #TradeFMCampusBusinessChallenge.
Selection Process includes:
At the close of entries, Trade FM will shortlist 10 finalists based on the originality of their business ideas, quality of their stories, existing effort and growth potential.
The shortlisted entries will be published on Trade FM’s social media platforms for public engagement. Final winners will emerge through a combined scoring system of 60% public engagement and 40% assessment by the Trade FM judging panel.
Organisers said the model is designed to balance public participation with merit-based evaluation to ensure that creativity, commitment and business viability remain central to the selection.
The Campus Business Challenge is part of Trade FM’s broader push to become a leading hub for business news, market intelligence and entrepreneurial conversations, while actively supporting enterprise development among young Nigerians.
For updates and participation details, applicants are advised to follow @tradefmlive on Instagram and TikTok.
Meanwhile, Trade FM is a digital media platform focused on business intelligence, market news, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities.
Owned by journalist and media entrepreneur Sharon Ijasan, the platform is committed to providing relevant business information, amplifying entrepreneurial stories and connecting businesses, professionals and investors with insights and opportunities within Nigeria and beyond.
BY ABDULBAQI JIBREEL AJAO
