FUNAAB Trains Students on Entrepreneurship Through YouWin Programme

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has hosted the YouWin Enterprise Education Programme for Tertiary Institutions, a Federal Government initiative aimed at equipping students with entrepreneurial skills to enhance self-reliance and national development.

Welcoming the team to the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, commended the choice of FUNAAB as a centre for the programme. He noted that the institution remained committed to producing graduates who would become employers of labour through creativity and innovation.

At the interactive session held at the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) Auditorium, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Festus Adeosun, observed that while academic qualifications are important, practical skills and innovation remain the real determinants of success in today’s economy.

Prof. Adeosun, who is a former Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), stressed that the current unemployment situation in Nigeria requires resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurship. He urged students to look beyond certificates and take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities that would make them job creators rather than seekers.

Giving further insights into the programme, Mr. Lampo Ibrahim, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, explained that YouWin Connect is a youth-focused initiative created to support small businesses and promote entrepreneurship across the country. He added that the initiative, which also extends to NYSC camps and other tertiary institutions, was designed to provide Nigerian youths with funding access and business development opportunities.

Mr. Ibrahim highlighted the four key sources of business funding available to young entrepreneurs as Friends and Family, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Government Agencies, and the Private Sector. He urged students to be diligent and transparent when applying for YouWin opportunities, emphasising that the funds must be used responsibly to grow enterprises.

He also referenced the Federal Government’s publication, Successful Nigerian Entrepreneurs, noting that financial struggles often result from poor financial literacy rather than lack of formal education. He encouraged students to embrace training in entrepreneurship and prudent money management as vital tools for sustainable success.

A major highlight of the event was the distribution of free books to participants.