UNILAG drives entrepreneurship, innovative mindset in students
…introduces business incubation certification seminar
BEARING in mind that no country’s economy can fly without small and medium entrepreneurship, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka has introduced an entrepreneurship, innovation, and business incubation certification programme to prepare its students for the future.
The five-day seminar was held inside the Ade Ajayi main auditorium with students from various institution faculties and delegates from Babcock University.
Folasade Ogunsola, the vice-chancellor of UNILAG in her speech urged the students to develop a creative mindset because the future will be different from the current realities today.
“We want you to grow your mind, change the way you think, and allow 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 an 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 an innovative mindset to succeed in the future. Besides, she maintained that collaboration is essential in their entrepreneurship journey, hence, she counselled the students to learn how to network with each other.
The vice-chancellor disclosed that the university has in place incubators to guide the students to develop the skills required to succeed both in the 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 to 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 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 entrepreneurship, innovation, and business incubation is to stir up the students’ creativity to become competitive in whatever they do in the future.
“This programme is to help you develop all the skills you need to become a successful entrepreneur. It’s in your hand, we can help you but you will do it for yourself,” she said.
Sunday Adebisi, the director of the Entrepreneurship Centre at UNILAG speaking on the topic, “Unlocking your potential”, highlighted how hobbies, talents, skills, interests, and likes can be converted into business.
Adebisi emphaised that there is a great need for students to be able to marry the various tools required to succeed in the 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.