Last Updated on April 15, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Olasunkanmi Olajide & Olaoye Oyewole
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is set to deepen its commitment to entrepreneurship development through a strategic partnership with the German Development Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), under the Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS) Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
The initiative, facilitated by the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), seeks to train both staff and students of the University using a robust model of Trainers, Facilitators, and Coaches (TFCs).
Speaking during a collaborative meeting held at the Green Chamber on April 11, 2025, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Kola Adebayo, affirmed FUNAAB’s ongoing efforts in empowering students through entrepreneurship education. He noted that Deans and Directors were specially invited to the meeting to deliberate on the modalities for embedding the ICSS model within FUNAAB’s academic curriculum.
Earlier, the Director of CENTS, Prof. Emily Ayo John, appreciated the University Management for its unrelenting support and expressed her gratitude to GIZ and the ICSS team for choosing FUNAAB as a partner institution. She stressed the importance of extending entrepreneurship training to youths, given the prevailing economic realities.
“Today marks yet another significant milestone in our valued partnership,” she stated. “We are gathered to further the discourse on the institutionalisation of the ICSS Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the GIZ-SEDIN within our University. This initiative promises to equip our students with the practical skills, mindset, and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s dynamic world.”
The Team Lead of GIZ-SEDIN GOPA Worldwide, Mr. Peik Bruhns, lauded FUNAAB’s proactive engagement and noted that the ICSS programme was currently active in seven states across Nigeria, including Ogun State. He expressed delight at the participation of Deans and Directors at the meeting, describing it as a sign of FUNAAB’s strong institutional commitment.
He added that GIZ had developed comprehensive materials to enhance the understanding and delivery of entrepreneurship education, assuring that both trainers and trainees would be adequately equipped.
Also speaking, the Senior Business Development Services Expert at GIZ-SEDIN GOPA Worldwide Consultants, Mr. Ismaeel Lawal, said that the ICSS model was gaining traction among tertiary institutions nationwide. He noted that the programme has been recognised by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as a key national and international framework for entrepreneurship development.
Mr. Lawal expressed optimism that a pilot partnership between FUNAAB and GIZ would serve as a model for sustainable entrepreneurship training across the country.
The meeting had in attendance all Deans of Colleges and Directors of Academic Centres, underscoring the institutional support and readiness to embrace this new chapter in entrepreneurship development.
