University of Ibadan Urges Students to Become Technology Creators, Not Consumers
Oru Leonard
The University of Ibadan (UI) has reaffirmed its commitment to producing graduates who are innovators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers, declaring that the future of education must go beyond the traditional classroom to equip students with the skills to create value and drive national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, at the opening of a TETFund-sponsored Train-the-Trainer Workshop organised by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Juwon T. Arotiba, FWACS, FICD, said the University recognises that education must empower learners to identify problems, design practical solutions, and build sustainable enterprises.
The one-day workshop, themed “Start-up Entrepreneurship and Business Planning,” brought together executive members of the Students’ Union, Students’ Representative Council, faculty presidents, departmental and hall chairpersons, as well as student entrepreneurs and innovators.
Professor Arotiba described the theme as timely, noting that rapid technological advancement and global interconnectedness have made entrepreneurship a critical driver of sustainable development.
He stressed that the University’s objective is to ensure graduates become creators of technology and innovation rather than mere consumers, adding that sectors such as precision agriculture, fintech, healthcare innovation, and the creative industries present enormous opportunities in the digital economy.
According to him, the Train-the-Trainer initiative is designed to create a multiplier effect by equipping participants with entrepreneurial knowledge they can transfer to others, thereby nurturing a new generation of innovators capable of transforming Nigeria’s economy.
He urged participants to approach the workshop with curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to collaborate, stressing that the knowledge and skills acquired would strengthen their entrepreneurial ventures while contributing to national development.
Professor Arotiba also called on academics to bridge the gap between theory and practice by ensuring that research and teaching translate into tangible societal progress.
He reaffirmed the University’s dedication to making entrepreneurship a pillar of academic excellence by fostering a culture where innovation becomes the norm and every promising idea has the potential to evolve into a successful enterprise.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor commended the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for its visionary leadership and expressed appreciation to TETFund for its sustained support in advancing entrepreneurship education at the University.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor Sherifat A. Aboaba, reiterated the Centre’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship education and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across the University community.
She explained that the workshop was carefully designed to equip student leaders with practical knowledge of entrepreneurship and business planning while preparing them to serve as peer educators, mentors, and ambassadors of entrepreneurship within their faculties, departments, associations, and the wider student community.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering entrepreneurship fundamentals, opportunity identification, creativity and innovation, business model development, business planning, financial literacy, marketing strategies, access to funding opportunities, and effective facilitation techniques.
The training featured presentations by Ms. Ifeoluwa Olatayo, CEO of Soupah Limited, on start-up entrepreneurship and ecosystem development; Mr. Abayomi Ogunsanya of Prudencia Resources Limited on start-up financing and business planning; Professor Ademola Lewis, Dean of Students, on emotional intelligence for entrepreneurial leadership; and Mrs. Olubukola G. Yomi-Akinola, a CEI facilitator, on nurturing the next generation of UI innovators and entrepreneurs.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Professor Simisola O. Akintola; Digital Finance Data Specialist at the Sanofi Innovation Hub, Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Ibrahim Hammed; and the President of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, Mr. Temidayo Sewanu Adeboye.
The workshop formed part of the University’s broader strategy to strengthen entrepreneurial capacity among students and position them as drivers of innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
Courtesy: UI Directorate of Public Communication.
