Last Updated on September 15, 2025 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
… As VC Reiterates Commitment to Nurturing Students Beyond Academics
By Olasunkanmi Olajide, Wuraola Dada & Ridwan Sulaiman
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has reaffirmed the commitment of the University to nurturing students beyond academics by preparing them for self-reliance and national development.
Welcoming the YouWin Enterprise Education Programme for Tertiary Institutions Team in his office today, September 9, 2025, the Vice-Chancellor appreciated the choice of FUNAAB as host, describing the initiative as a timely platform to empower students with entrepreneurial skills that would enable them to thrive in today’s competitive economy.
Speaking at the session, which took place at the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) Auditorium, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Festus Adeosun, observed that while a university degree remained valuable, the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained during campus life were the real determinants of future success.
Prof. Adeosun, a former Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), emphasised that the current realities of youth unemployment in Nigeria demand creativity, resilience, and innovation. He charged students to look beyond certificates and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities that would position them as job creators rather than job seekers.
Giving an insight into the programme, Mr. Lampo Ibrahim, representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, explained that YouWin Connect was a youth-focused initiative designed to support small businesses and foster entrepreneurship nationwide. He noted that the programme, which extends to NYSC camps and other tertiary institutions, was originally launched to provide Nigerian youths with access to funding and business development opportunities.
According to him, the core of YouWin Connect was to inspire young people to develop business ideas, grow them into sustainable enterprises, and reduce dependence on formal employment. He, therefore, advised students to take advantage of the programme and build ventures that would secure their future and contribute to national economic growth.
Highlighting practical pathways to business funding, Mr. Ibrahim identified four major sources available to aspiring entrepreneurs, which were Friends and Family; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Government Agencies,as well as the Private Sector.
He further underscored the role of NGOs in complementing government’s efforts to reduce unemployment through enterprise support, urging students to uphold integrity and accountability when applying for YouWin opportunities. He stressed that the funds must be used judiciously to grow businesses.
Referencing the Federal Government’s publication, Successful Nigerian Entrepreneurs, Mr. Ibrahim pointed out that financial struggles were not always due to lack of formal education but often result from poor financial literacy. He, therefore, encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurial training and prudent financial management as essential life skills.
A major highlight of the event was the distribution of free books to participants.
