…introduces business incubation certification seminar
Bearing in mind that no country’s economy can fly without small and medium entrepreneurships, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka has introduced entrepreneurship, innovation and business incubation certification programme to prepare its students for the future.
The five-day seminar held inside the Ade Ajayi main auditorium which had students from various faculties of the institution in attendance, and delegates from Babcock University.
Folasade Ogunsola, the vice-chancellor of UNILAG in her speech urged the students to develop creative mindset because the future will definitely be different from the current realities today.
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“We want you to grow your mind, changing the way you think, and allowing your mind not to be limited by narrow views of life.
“A lot of what will happen to you is in your mind. We are giving entrepreneurship mindset through this programme. Your creativity is what makes you outstanding in the world whether as an employee or employer,” she said.
Ogunsola reiterated the need for the students to embrace adaptability and innovative mindset to succeed in future. Besides, she maintained that collaboration is essential in their entrepreneurship journey, hence, she counseled the students to learn how to network with each other.
The vice-chancellor disclosed that the university have in place incubators to guide the students develop the skills required to succeed both in workplace and as entrepreneurs.
“We have incubators who are experienced and are ready to help your entrepreneurial journey. Open your mind and allow yourself to grow,” she advised.
Ayodele Atsenuwa, the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of development services admonished the students to discard the mindset of waiting for someone create a job for them, stressing that is what kept the country it is today.
“The mindset of waiting for someone else to create the job for us to work has been the problem. No economy can fly without the small and medium scale enterprises.
Becoming an entrepreneur equips you for the future. Hence, you must learn to add value in terms of becoming a value creator and value consumer,” she said.
Atsenuwa pointed out that the main idea behind the entrepreneurship, innovation and business incubation is to stir up the students’ creativity to become competitive in whatever they do in future.
“This programme is to help you develop all the skills you need to become a successful entrepreneurs. It’s in your hand, we can help you but you will do it for yourself,” she said.
Sunday Adebisi, the director of Entrepreneurship Centre at UNILAG speaking on the topic, “Unlocking your potential”, highlighted how hobbies, talents, skills, interests and likes can be converted into business.
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Adebisi emphaised that there is a great need for the students to be able to marry the various tools required to succeed in entrepreneurship ecosystem.
However, he regretted the fact that many people allow the can’t do it mentality to weigh them down. He said if anyone can take away the ‘t’ in can’t, everything becomes possible.
He cited examples in Alina Morse, Kayla Itsines, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Oluwatobi Ajayi, and Elion Musk, among others who converted their talents, hobbies and passions into business.
“Alina Morse founded the Zoli Candy, a sugar-free candy in her curiosity to why her parents would not allow her eat candies because of sugar.
At 10 years, Alina is already worth $5 million, while many of you who are not less than 17 years are still waiting on your parents for financial help,” he noted.
Chioma Ogwo, the head of emerging business at Access Bank Plc took the students through what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.
Reinstating the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Ogwo said, “SMEs contribute about 60 percent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP), and employs about 90 percent employees in the country.”
Gross domestic product is the standard measure of the value added created through the production of goods and services in a country.
According to the UNILAG law graduate, turned a banker the pillars of entrepreneurship are the ability to innovate, initiate, become responsible, a risk taker and an enhancer.
And to achieve this, the potential entrepreneur must be a visionary, passionate, risk-taker, creative and adaptable, among other qualities.
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