As part of efforts at mitigating the challenges of unemployment and enhancing the standard of living of Nigerian youths, the University’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), has commenced the Vocational Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Programme for the year.
According to the Director of CENTS, Professor Adewale Dipeolu, the establishment of the Centre was in tandem with the attainment of objectives of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Vision 20:2020 of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He said the aim of integrating entrepreneurship studies into University education curriculum was to empower students and graduates, irrespective of their areas of specialisation with skills that would enable them engage in income-yielding ventures, if they were unable to secure paid jobs.
Professor Dipeolu disclosed that the skills acquisition programme would last for nine weeks and would cover soft skills areas, such as business plan development, business registration, funding, product patenting and hard skills in areas which the participants have chosen for themselves out of the array of skills. The Director pointed out that at the end of the programme, participants are expected to create their own micro, small and medium scale enterprises over time and in the process, create jobs and grow the economy.
The co-ordinator of the programme, Dr. Funmilayo Braide, disclosed that as part of the training, participants would be tutored by skill leaders from various fields in skills such as graphics, catering, aquaculture, beads-making, interior decoration, textile design, photography and automation fabrication. She highlighted the objectives of the centre to include creating and promoting entrepreneurial awareness and opportunities, imparting entrepreneurial skills on staff and students of the University as well as interested members of the public, encouraging the development and growth of entrepreneurship in Nigeria and creating career development for economic transformation.
The Skill Leaders were: Dr. Funmilayo Braide (Event Planning and Interior Decoration); Mrs. Chioma Olajide (Catering) and Mr. Yomi Aroso (Graphics Design).
Others were Mr. David Osinowo (Fish and Fingerlings Production); Mr. Jonadab Opebiyi (Automation and Mechanics) and Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunjimi (Bead and Wireworks).
