The 2026 Business Verge Student Essay Competition has reached its final stage, with three University of Lagos students remaining in the race for the overall prize.
The competition challenged students to answer a question central to the future of entrepreneurship in Nigeria:
“How Can Young Nigerians Build Sustainable Businesses in Today’s Economy?”
After entries were evaluated and the competition progressed from the Top 10 to the Top 5, three students have now advanced to the final stage.
The top 3, listed in no particular order, are
John Fulfilment
300 Level, Computer Engineering
Fulfilment’s essay, “Building From the Rubble: How Young Nigerians Can Build Sustainable Businesses in Today’s Economy,” explored the realities of building businesses in an environment where entrepreneurs often have to navigate significant economic and structural challenges.
Adeniran Saheed
200 Level, Law
Saheed’s essay, “Nigeria Economy: How Young Nigerians Can Build Enduring Business Ideas,” examined how young Nigerians can develop business ideas capable of lasting beyond immediate opportunities.
Tobechukwu Egboh
400 Level, Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Egboh’s essay, “The Inverter Principle: Building Businesses That Assume the Grid Will Fail,” approached the question through the lens of one of the major challenges facing businesses and households in Nigeria — unreliable electricity.
From Top 10 to Top 3
The Top 3 announcement is the latest stage in a competition that has progressively narrowed the field of participating students.
Business Verge previously announced its Top 10 finalists, before reducing the field to five students in the next stage.
The three finalists now represent the final group from which the overall winner will be selected.
The competition has brought together perspectives from students studying different disciplines, reinforcing the idea that entrepreneurship and business thinking extend beyond traditional business-related courses.
The Final Decision
The winner of the 2026 Business Verge Student Essay Competition will be announced following the final evaluation process.
The competition has provided participating students with an opportunity to think critically about entrepreneurship, sustainability and the economic realities young Nigerians face.
For Business Verge, the initiative also forms part of its effort to create platforms that amplify emerging voices and encourage young people to engage with the issues shaping Nigeria’s business environment.
The Top 3 announcement brings the competition one step closer to its conclusion.
Follow Business Verge for the announcement of the 2026 winner.
