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3RD TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS STUDENT ENERGY PITCH CONTEST

Call for Pitch Decks - open to tertiary institution student teams in Nigeria only

Tertiary Institutions Student Energy Pitch Challenge (TIEC) aims to promote student-led clean energy innovations, awareness, and investments across higher education institutions in Nigeria. Since 2023, the TIEC was co-created by NEF and All On, an impact investment firm. The 3rd TIEC cohort will accelerate high-impact energy innovations, foster job creation and boost youth employment across student-led team from tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Shortlisted teams will be invited to pitch ideas, present a poster and attend energy transition knowledge building and network events in-person at the 10th Nigeria Energy Forum at Marcellina Centre, Along Radisson Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, Nigeria. Winning teams will be awarded a share of 4.5M naira in grants and more in business support and mentorship. The 2025 TIEC3.0 key themes are: (i) Powering Youth Employment & Jobs; (ii) Energizing Agri-business; (iii) Green Manufacturing & Value Addition; (iv) Electrified Mobility & CNG for Transport.
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Guidelines & Eligibility Criteria

Open to Tertiary Institution students in Nigeria only.

The entries will be evaluated by an independent expert panel using the following attributes:

Local Content: utilize local resources, demonstrate use of local expertise, to address global challenges;

Originality and creativity: present solutions that are original and creative in areas of energy application;

Commercial Viability: proposed solution must be cost efficient and commercially viable;

Youth Employment: ideas must link young people to quality employment or entrepreneurship opportunities;

Teamship: including gender balance, team capabilities, composition & motivation of shortlisted teams.

Pitch Decks will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis; I'd encourage you to submit early.

First, all teams MUST complete the online form at www.theneforg.org/tiec2025, including a 50-word abstract of the proposed innovation/project, with the attachment of a 7-slide Pitch Deck using a pdf version by 7th May 2025.

Next, Proof of submission of the online form, MUST be forwarded by email to no-reply@thenef.org,

A share of 4.5 million Naira grants to be awarded to winning teams to pilot/upscale project prototype. 2 million First Prize; 1.5 million Naira 2nd Prize & 1 million Naira 3rd Prize.

At least 2 student representatives (comprising at least 1 woman and 1man) of each shortlisted teams MUST be accompanied by 1 faculty staff member; and will be offered complimentary registration,

Hotel accommodation & travel/logistics support; to fully participate at the 10th NEF2025 technical, training, networking, capacity building sessions and Live Pitch Finals to be held on Tues. 8th July 2025 in Lagos.

  • Teams must be formed by undergraduate/masters students, registered in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics, technical colleges & other degree-awarding institutions;
  • Teams may be formed across different departments/faculty within an institution to foster collaboration and innovation;
  • A faculty/institutional staff member MUST mentor student teams. Student chapters of professional institutions, including IEEE/NiMechE/NSE and others, are also encouraged to apply, and Gender equity/balance in team composition is strongly encouraged & MUST be implemented across all stages of the project from ideation to delivery.
  • Past TIEC Winners are strongly encouraged to serve as ambassadors, by promoting the opportunity across their region, and mentoring upcoming teams rather than re-submitting previous entries.

Key Dates:

7th May 2025 – Stage 1:Submit Pitch Deck (with maximum 7 slides) to outline idea, problem statement, proposed innovation solution; cost-benefit analysis; team composition and impact.
9th June 2025 – Notification of Shortlist entries to proceed to Stage 2 & Stage 3;
17th June 2025 – Stage 2: Shortlisted entries submit 1-page Poster to illustrate the concept, technical design, delivery plan, & cost/benefit analysis. Upload 1-minute Pitch video by team on social media.
23rd-30th June 2025 – Public Vote on 1-minute Video Pitch, based on total views & likes (10% of total grade)
7th-8th July 2025 – Stage 3: Arrival in Lagos; Poster Presentation; Live Pitch Finals & Awards at NEF2025.
9th-11th July 2025 – Winners & past winners field visit, grand reception & radio/TV interviews in Lagos.
20th Nov. 2025 – Winners 2-minutes video, present progress & grant impact to global audience at webcast.

Round 1

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Download TIEC3.0 Poster Template