Open Your Mind, Sharpen Your Skills, LASU VC Counsels Fresh Student Entrepreneurs

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOMhas charged the fresh students admitted for Full Time Degree with Entrepreneurship to open their minds, sharpen their entrepreneurial potential to enable them take advantage of opportunities in their environment.

The professor of Physiology ably represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan gave this advice at the opening ceremony of the  two-Day orientation programme organized by the Directorate of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship [DSDE] for newly admitted Full Time Degree with Entrepreneurship students for the 2022/2023 Academic Session at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, main campus, Ojo, Lagos.

Prof. Olatunji-Bello averred that the objective of this programme is not to only provide hands-on training in different entrepreneurship skills area, but also to create a platform where students’ entrepreneurship ideas can be nurtured and incubated till they can firmly stand on their own.

She considered the students lucky, saying that at the end of their studentship in Lagos State University, they are not just going to be awarded an Academic Degree, but will also be certified by the university as trained entrepreneurs.

Speaking further, the Vice Chancellor advised the freshmen to choose wisely amongst entrepreneurial skills being offered by the University, vocational skills that are of best interest to them as individuals.

Earlier at the event, the Acting Director, DSDE, Dr. HabeebSanni while delivering his welcome address affirmed that the Directorate is saddled with the responsibility of enlightening the students and general public on the need to embrace entrepreneurship as a tool for self and National Development, amongst others.

Dr. Sanni also highlighted some of the entrepreneurship skills offered by the Directorate which the freshmen could choose from such as Water Treatment and Packaging, Event Planning, Bag Making, Makeup and Cosmetics, and many more. He then assured them that the Directorate, through their esteemed facilitators, will groom them to be employers of labour and not job seekers.

The Guest Speaker at the opening ceremony of the orientation programme, Chief Executive Officer, Smart Gas/Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker and Trainer, Dr. Yinka Opeke while speaking to the students, shared her experience during her university days and NYSC program, how she was able to identify business opportunities all around her, solving people’s problem by providing solutions and making money from it.

Dr. Opeke charged the students to provide solutions to make extra money for themselves and be multitasking as an entrepreneur. She also highlighted some of the principles that have  worked for her over the years which include having good interpersonal skills, identifying your goals, having  multiple streams of income, self-development, allowing people to see your brain before your beauty, saving money no matter how small it is and many more, to enthusiast the freshmen.

Dr. (Mrs.) S.M.O. Ayo-Shobowale, Department of Education Management, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University while delivering her talk on day two of the orientation programme charged the students not to be job seekers at the end of their four or five years course but rather a job creator. She further advised the students to know theirselves, and develop on their inner traits, only with that can they go far in life as an entrepreneur.

Mr. Olusola Olumide from the Bursary Unit of the University also gave a motivational talk and implored the students to think of now, tomorrow and future when chosing a craft or skill.

The Assistant Director, Directorate of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Francis Dansu explained vividly to the students how to register for any skill of their choice.

He emphasized that no skill would be forced on any student as they would be allowed to choose a skill by themselves, which would run all through their four or five years in the University.

He implored the students to carefully think about their choice of skill and stated that students would not be allowed to change to other skills after making their choice.

Dr. Dansu further explained to the students how to make adequate use of the log book and encouraged them to always attend classes and mark attendance as they would not be awarded certificates, especially to students that were not serious and well behaved.

Some of the facilitators whom were to train the students in various skills were available at the orientation programme to enlighten them on the various vocational skills available.

The resource persons include Mrs. Oyeniji Mabel Ayoka (Soap Making), Mr. Bodunde Samuel (Bread Making), Dr. Henry Hunjo (Writing and Publishing as a Business or an Enterprise), Dr. Femi Ajose (Import and Export), Mrs. Rukayat Adediran(Finger Foods, Small Chops and Cocktail), Mrs. Thomas Oyinade (Cake Making and Confectionery), Miss AkinsanyaOlabisi (Leather Making and Shoe Making), Mr. OluwaseunAkin-Obembe (Carpentry and Furniture) amongst others.

The Orientation Programme was well attended by the students and the 2-days programme ended Friday, 9th June 2023.