University of Ibadan Urges Students to Embrace Entrepreneurship Beyond the Classroom

The University of Ibadan (UI) has reaffirmed its commitment to entrepreneurship-driven education, stressing that the future of learning extends beyond the classroom to equipping students with the skills to solve problems, create value, and build globally competitive enterprises.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Juwon T. Arotiba, made the assertion while representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode O. Adebowale, at the opening of a TETFund-sponsored Train-the-Trainer Workshop organised by the University's Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI).

Speaking on the workshop theme, "Start-up Entrepreneurship and Business Planning," Prof. Arotiba said the University recognizes that education must empower learners to identify challenges, design practical solutions, and drive innovation.

He described the theme as timely, noting that rapid technological advancement and global interconnectedness have made entrepreneurship a cornerstone of sustainable development, requiring creativity, resilience, and innovation.

According to him, the train-the-trainer model is designed to multiply impact by equipping participants to mentor and inspire other students, thereby fostering a new generation of innovators capable of transforming Nigeria's economy.

Prof. Arotiba noted that opportunities in today's economy are increasingly digital, with sectors such as precision agriculture, fintech, health innovation, and the creative industry offering immense potential. He emphasized that the University's goal is to produce graduates who are creators of technology and enterprise rather than mere consumers.

He urged participants to approach the workshop with curiosity and commitment, collaborate actively, and apply the knowledge gained to strengthen their businesses while contributing to national development.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor also called on academics to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that research and teaching produce practical solutions that advance society. He reaffirmed the University's commitment to making entrepreneurship a core pillar of academic excellence by fostering an environment where innovation thrives and ideas are transformed into viable enterprises.

Prof. Arotiba commended the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for its leadership and acknowledged TETFund for supporting entrepreneurial education at the University.

Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Prof. Sherifat A. Aboaba, reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to promoting entrepreneurship education and cultivating an entrepreneurial culture across the University.

She explained that the one-day workshop was designed to equip student leaders with 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 received training through 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 sessions were facilitated by:

• Ms. Ifeoluwa Olatayo, CEO of Soupah Limited – Understanding Start-up Entrepreneurship and the Ecosystem.
• Mr. Abayomi Ogunsanya of Prudencia Resources Limited – Start-up Financing and Business Planning.
• Prof. Ademola Lewis, Dean of Students, University of Ibadan – Emotional Intelligence for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Start-up Success.
• Mrs. Olubukola G. Yomi-Akinola, CEI Facilitator and Entrepreneur Educator – Nurturing the Next Generation of UI Innovators and Entrepreneurs.

The workshop attracted executive members of the Students' Union, members of the Students' Representative Council, faculty presidents, departmental chairpersons, hall chairpersons, student entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof. 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.