The Directorate of Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovations, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye has organized a sensitization programme for members of the University community on its new vision on Entrepreneurial studies and Innovations.
The programme which was held at Otunba Gbenga Daniel Lecture Theater, Main Campus on Monday, 10th June, 2019 attracted both Teaching and Non-Teaching staff of the University. Also in attendance were Principal Officers, Provosts and Deans as well as Directors of other Directorates in the University.
In his opening remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde Olatunji, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Deji Agboola stressed the importance of entrepreneurship skills in all faculties, departments and among members of staff. He also reiterated the readiness of the University Management to support the Directorate of Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovations in its desire to develop individual entrepreneurial skills so that graduates from various departments could be financially self-reliant and become employers of labour rather than boosting the population of unemployed graduates in the labour market.
Prof. Agboola further emphasized the need for entrepreneurship skills to be imbibed in all facets of human lives in order to generate extra income for the sustenance of every family. He urged all participants to focus more on entrepreneurship saying that it was a way out of the present unemployment ravaging the youths of this country.
Presenting his paper on the vision of the Directorate, its Director, Prof. Tunde Ogunsanwo expressed his appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde for supporting his ideas and vision. He remarked that the Directorate would encourage the University to establish a training workshop where students would be exposed to practical knowledge and skills acquisition in the areas of fabrication, carpentry, electrical and mechanical tools making.
He added that the proposed involvement of undergraduates from Electrical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering and others in the execution of projects being awarded to contractors would go a long way at enabling them to acquire real practical knowledge before graduation.
For diversification of interest, he mentioned the importance of an education student who could be interested in snail farming and a computer science graduate could also be found to be interested in the production of candles. These extra-curricular skills would earn them extra income and they would become employers of labour.
Prof. Ogunsanwo advocated for the introduction of entrepreneurship skills in various disciplines so that all departments in various faculties would sooner than later produce graduates who would not be looking for white-colar jobs but would rather be self-reliant, self-employed and become employers of labour. The Director who lamented the lack of adequate funding by government, enumerated some areas through which entrepreneurship skills could be developed, citing chemistry and industrial chemistry as test cases.
