Twelve student companies from across Nigeria will compete at Junior Achievement Nigeria’s (JAN) 2026 National Company of the Year (NCOY) Competition on Wednesday, October 21, showcasing innovative business ideas developed through the School-to-Work Educational Transition for Long-Term Youth Fulfilment (SET4LYF) program.
Held under the theme “Augmenting Innovation,” the competition will bring together student entrepreneurs to present their ventures, demonstrate their business capabilities, and showcase solutions developed through hands-on entrepreneurship education. The winning company will earn the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the African Company of the Year (ACOY) Competition in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ahead of the competition, JAN hosted a media conference that brought together journalists from across Nigeria to discuss the competition’s objectives, the role of entrepreneurship education in preparing young people for the future, and the opportunities created through SET4LYF’s Company Program.
Speaking at the media conference, Tobiloba Olaosun, Head, Marketing and Communications at Junior Achievement Nigeria, highlighted the organization’s longstanding commitment to youth education and entrepreneurship.
She noted that the JAN curriculum delivers experiential learning that expands young people’s aspirations, encouraging them to develop their ideas and explore entrepreneurial opportunities.
“We have seen how entrepreneurship can become a meaningful pathway for young people, including through success stories such as Iyin Aboyeji, a serial entrepreneur and former JAN board member. We are also open to more partnerships that can expand these opportunities and help more young people develop their entrepreneurial potential,” Olaosun said.
The NCOY Competition is a key milestone in SET4LYF, which supports girls in developing the entrepreneurial, work-readiness and problem-solving skills needed to transition from school into further education, entrepreneurship and meaningful employment. Through the program’s pathway, participants engage in the Ideathon, JA DEEP, Company Program, Company of the Year competitions and career pathways, gaining practical experience in developing ideas, managing ventures, working in teams and presenting business solutions.
Olaolu Akogun, Acting Executive Director of Junior Achievement Nigeria, emphasised the importance of ensuring that young people can apply what they learn beyond the classroom. Through SET4LYF, JAN seeks to equip girls with the knowledge, confidence and practical experience to make informed decisions about their futures and pursue opportunities in entrepreneurship and the wider economy.
The competition will feature 12 student companies representing schools across Nigeria, each presenting a business developed through the Company Program. Their participation reflects the value of experiential learning in helping students understand the process of turning ideas into viable ventures, from product development and marketing to financial management, teamwork and decision-making.
The winning company will receive a prize of $250.00 USD and an all-expense-paid trip to Cape Town to represent Nigeria at the African Company of the Year (ACOY) Competition, where they will compete alongside student entrepreneurs from other African countries. The second- and third-place companies will receive $150 and $100, respectively, while a further $100 prize will be awarded to recognise outstanding corporate social responsibility. Food Concepts, through its Chicken Republic brand, will also recognise the student company with the best marketing and sales strategy, while the Project Management Institute (PMI) Nigeria Chapter will award certificates to participating student companies in recognition of their participation and entrepreneurial development.
The competition will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of teachers, mentors, volunteers, implementing partners and other stakeholders who support young people as they develop their skills and explore entrepreneurial pathways. JAN continues to welcome collaboration with organisations interested in expanding access to practical entrepreneurship education and preparing young people for a changing economy.
The 2026 NCOY Competition forms part of JAN’s wider efforts to connect learning with real-world opportunities, helping young people build the skills, confidence and experience to become entrepreneurs, problem-solvers and contributors to Nigeria’s economic development.
About SET4LYF
The School-to-Work Educational Transition for Long-Term Youth Fulfilment (SET4LYF) program supports girls in developing the skills, knowledge and experience needed to transition from school into meaningful employment and entrepreneurship. Through experiential learning, entrepreneurship education, mentorship and work-based exposure, the program connects education with practical opportunities to prepare girls for the world of work.
About Junior Achievement Nigeria
Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is part of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the world’s oldest and largest non-profit economic education organization operating in over 100 countries. They have impacted over 2 million students across Nigeria by fostering creativity and innovation, preparing the next generation of Nigerian leaders to drive economic change. JAN is dedicated to empowering youths in financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
For more information, visit www.janigeria.org.
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