FUNAAB VC Charges Students on Entrepreneurship as Skills Training Nears Completion

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has urged students to maximise opportunities provided through the university’s entrepreneurial training programme as the current session approaches completion.

Prof. Kehinde gave the charge during a working visit to the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies on April 29, 2026, where he interacted with 200-Level students participating in practical entrepreneurship training scheduled to conclude on May 6, 2026.

Addressing the trainees, the vice-chancellor stressed the growing importance of entrepreneurial and vocational skills in today’s highly competitive economic environment, noting that universities must move beyond theoretical education to practical capacity development.

He explained that the institution remains committed to equipping students with relevant skills capable of improving employability, encouraging innovation, and creating alternative income opportunities after graduation.

Prof. Kehinde advised students to see the programme not merely as a compulsory academic exercise but as a strategic platform for developing practical competencies that could evolve into sustainable businesses or profitable side ventures.

He also encouraged participants to cultivate creativity, diligence, and innovation, describing them as critical qualities required for entrepreneurial success in the modern economy.

Speaking during the visit, Director of the Centre, Prof. Sakiru Akinbode, disclosed that students were receiving practical training in more than 21 vocational and business-related areas.

According to him, the programme covers skills such as fashion designing, bag making, photography, videography, digital marketing, social media content creation, laptop repairs, information management, and the production of household cleaning products.

Prof. Akinbode explained that the training commenced on April 1, 2026, under the ETS 206 practical course and is conducted weekly every Wednesday between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for all 200-Level students of the university.

He noted that the initiative was designed to ensure broad exposure to practical and income-generating skills across disciplines while reinforcing the university’s entrepreneurship-driven educational model.

The director further stated that the vice-chancellor’s visit was intended to motivate students and strengthen the institution’s culture of innovation and enterprise development.

He also stressed the importance of agriculture as a modern business venture, urging students to embrace it as a pathway to wealth creation and economic growth rather than viewing it solely as subsistence activity.

Also present during the visit were the Deputy Director of the Centre, Dr. Abiodun Oyelakin, alongside other officials of the entrepreneurship centre.

The initiative aligns with growing efforts by Nigerian universities to integrate practical entrepreneurship and vocational training into higher education as a response to rising unemployment and evolving labour market demands.