Nile University of Nigeria has recorded another landmark achievement as a team of its alumni, all graduates of the Department of Software Engineering, emerged winners of the 2026 Student Venture Capital Grant (SVCG) Competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The alumni-led startup, Refree-G, secured the grand prize of ₦50 million, distinguishing itself as one of Nigeria’s most promising innovative ventures. The nine-member team impressed judges with a scalable, technology-driven solution designed to enable transparent crowdfunding and social impact financing using blockchain technology.
Originally conceived as a solution to support refugee integration and address key Sustainable Development Goals such as poverty reduction and zero hunger, the team pivoted to develop a crowdfunding platform that enables individuals and organizations to raise funds safely and transparently.
Since its launch, Refree-G has processed donations worth over ₦5 million, supported social causes including orphanages, gathered over 10,000 petition signatures globally, and onboarded more than 2,000 users, demonstrating both impact and scalability.
During their post-victory visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Nile University (Prof. Dilli Dogo, FNAMED, DFMC), the Refree-G team lead, Julius Adeiza Angulu, highlighted the challenges and turning points that shaped the venture.
“Very early in our journey, we realized that beyond building solutions, access to funding was a major barrier for innovators. That challenge inspired us to build Refree-G, a transparent crowdfunding platform powered by blockchain technology. With the support we received from Nile University and beyond, we have been able to create impact, scale our solution, and build a community that fosters social and economic change.”
A critical enabler of this success was Nile University’s Collective Lab (Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub), where the founders birthed and nurtured the idea during their time as students. The Collective Lab provides student entrepreneurs with the skills and support (mentorship, funding opportunities, etc.) and enabling environment that empowers to transform ideas into viable, impact-driven enterprises.
Through this platform, the Refree-G team accessed early-stage support, including participation in university hackathons and seed funding, which facilitated the creation of their startup and laid the foundation for winning the ₦50 million grant.
Commending the Refree-G team, the Vice-Chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Dilli Dogo, FNAMed, DFMC, described the feat as a reflection of the University’s innovation-driven ecosystem.
“This outstanding achievement by our alumni shows our commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and equipping our students with the skills to solve real-world problems. Through initiatives such as the Collective Lab, we are empowering our students and alumni to transform ideas into impactful businesses that contribute meaningfully to society.”
The Student Venture Capital Grant Competition is a flagship initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education aimed at supporting high-potential student and alumni-led ventures with funding, visibility, and national recognition. The programme plays a critical role in bridging the gap between academic innovation and enterprise development in Nigeria.
With this milestone, Nile University continues to reinforce its position as a leading hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development, producing graduates who are not only job-ready but also capable of creating jobs and driving sustainable development across Africa.
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About Nile University of Nigeria
Nile University of Nigeria is a private multidisciplinary university established in 2009 and located in Abuja, Nigeria. Nile University is committed to building future generations of professionals and leaders who can thrive and positively impact society by leveraging academic innovation, state-of-the-art facilities, and a talented team of faculty and staff. The university currently has eight faculties (Health Sciences, Law, Engineering, Computing, Science, Arts & Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Environmental Sciences) and a School of Postgraduate Studies offering over 40 undergraduate programmes and more than 50 postgraduate programmes. Nile University is owned by Honoris United Universities, the first and largest pan-African private higher education with 16 institutions across 10 African countries.
About Honoris United Universities
is the first and largest pan-African private higher education network committed to transforming lives through relevant education for lifetime success. Collaborative intelligence, cultural agility, and mobile mindsets are at the heart of the Honoris approach to educating the next generation of leaders and professionals to make a transformative impact on a global scale. Honoris combines the expertise of its member institutions to develop world-class African human talent with an entrepreneurial mindset and 21st-century skills to thrive in the world of work.
Recognized as a New Champion by the World Economic Forum, Honoris comprises a community of 100,000+ students on 76 campuses in 26 cities. The network is formed of 16 institutions: multidisciplinary universities, specialized schools, technical and vocational institutes, contact, distance, and online institutions. Honoris has transformed more than 1.2 million lives to date with a legacy of 250+ years of experience in education, supported by exclusive academic partnerships and exchange programs in more than 250 universities across Europe, North America, and Asia. To strengthen its employability mandate, students benefit from an ecosystem of over 1,000 employer partners. More than 490 degrees are offered in Medicine, Health Sciences, Engineering, IT, Business, Law, Architecture, Digital and Creative Arts, Fashion and Design, Media, Political Science, and Education.
Honoris United Universities. Education for Impact.