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• Urges deliberate embrace of entrepreneurship
By Chinyere Anyanwu
The need to embrace entrepreneurship as a tool in the creation of sustainable wealth has been emphasised.
Prof. Luciam Chukwu, Prof. Ogunsola, Prof. Adebisi, Heiress Adetoun and Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, Olowo of Owo.
Prof. Sunday Abayomi Adebisi, director, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre, University of Lagos (UNILAG), made the remarks during the maiden annual public lecture of the Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jr.) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies in Lagos.
Adebisi who spoke on “Revolutionising the Nigerian Economy to Create Wealth: The Sole-Ladder, the Sole-Option and the Sole-Platform,” noted that creating sustainable wealth could only be achieved through the sole-ladder, which is innovation, the sole-option, which is entrepreneurship, and the sole-platform, which is the Nigerian youth.
He said, if the nation must create sustainable wealth, “we must, as a matter of policy and deliberate intention embrace everything enterpreneurship, provided it will lead to value addition.”
In his remarks, the chairman on the occasion, Prof. Olutoyin Okeowo, pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University, noted that, “Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world.”
He said it was, therefore, pertinent to tackle the challenge through the creation of wealth, a situation which calls for collaboration between the town and the gown.
Prof. Okeowo was optimistic that the lecture would lay the foundation for the economic revolution the country will build on.
In her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, appreciated the chair donor for partnering with the university in enhancing the frontiers of entrepreneurial academic knowledge and skills acquisition in the institution.
She said the major “aim is to utilise the chair to collectively explore innovative pathways that not only address the economic challenges we face but also pave way for a sustainable prosperous future.”
The lecture, according to her, “ is expected to promote interest that can be galvanised to enhance job creation and address the problem of massive youth unemployment.
“The chair is also aimed at promoting research and learning, especially research and teaching that is responsive to development needs.
To support the development of the innovative mindset among our students, we are adopting new teaching methods to facilitate better learning as well as prioritise the use of modern methods of knowledge and skills acquisition that emphasise problem solving and critical thinking skills.
“Today’s lecture signifies our commitment to ethical and inclusive economic practices and it represents the ascent of our nation towards prosperity, with each rung symbolising a step forward in creating opportunities for our youths and the larger society. May our discussions today ignite the flames of innovation, inspire change and set the stage for a Nigeria that thrives economically.”
