Members of the Olabisi Onabanjo University chapter of Enactus – an International non-profit Organization dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action have distinguished themselves at this year’s Enactus National Competition which was recently held at the Civic Centre, Lagos .
The OOU Team was singled out for award and adjudged first in the initial rounds of the 2017 competition in Lagos where they were grouped in the same pool with the defending champions, Kaduna Polytechnics, Federal University of Akure (FUTA) and other tertiary Institutions.
The competition which started with 38 entries from 32 Institutions was convened by the Enactus/Sahara group.
The OOU Enactus team had developed for its first project, a non toxic stove and an oven that eliminates smoke and reduces fuel consumption by 25% . The second project which was termed Trash Energy, has to do with the processing of cow dung into energy and fertilizers. This was operated on a mini biogas prototype. The mini biogas technology was able to convert biological waste into heat energy.
It must be noted that the OOU Team went to this competition with Twenty (20) students led by Ilochonwu Ekene,400 level Business Administration student and AmusatAjoke, 200 level student of Mass communication with Chukwu Joshua, a 200level Microbiology student serving as the Project Team Manager. Each team provided a 17 minutes presentation with a report to a Panel of Corporate Judges showing how they fulfilled the Enactus mission to create innovative projects that would achieve triple Ps of making life Profitable for People on the Planet earth.
In similar vein, fifteen (15) OOU students have secured a sum of N1.5million scholarship from the “Impact Your World Leadership Initiative (IYWLI), an organization that was set to identify, nurture and empower youths to exhibit their leadership prowess in a way that will uplift and benefit their society. According to the Chief Operating Officer of the Academy, Mr. Joseph Baiyekusi, the “Impact Your World Leadership Initiative” conducted two fold interviews for students of selected four identified Universities which had demonstrated leadership skills as student leaders within the South Western States of Nigeria.
In the first fold, was a written interview while the other was oral, based on project. The Academy chose the students who met its criteria. Consequently, fifteen OOU students were presented with the scholarship awards of the sum of hundred thousand Naira each and an invitation to attend a week leadership training at the “Impact Your World Leadership Initiative Academy”.
Receiving the two teams, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde in his remarks applauded the students for making the university proud through their committed efforts and exemplary leadership skills. The Acting Vice-Chancellor remarked that as tomorrow’s future leaders, they should equip themselves with knowledge and skills to develop sustainable enterprise, stronger communities and a world with greater opportunities for everyone.
Prof. Olatunde promised that the university would continue to support students to achieve their dreams by unlocking their hidden talents and unleashing such to improve the society at large.
