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One of the foremost real estate companies in Nigeria, Dukiya Investments, doled out N1 million to the students of University of Ilorin who are Small and Medium Enterprises owners to help support their businesses.
The firm shortlisted ten student entrepreneurs who were exceptional with their business ideas and were gifted N100,000 each.
During the presentation at the “Entrepreneurs and Leaders’ Connect” programme organised by Arts Education Students Association (AESA) that recently held at the school premise, the Department Head, Dr A Said applauded the leadership of the Students Association under Comrade Awolaja Olaoluwa Smith for the initiative.
He said, “Entrepreneurship is the main thing in our economy now and the programme is really timely and I believe it will have a lot of impacts on the students” said Dr. Saidu who emphasized the urgent need for students to tend towards entrepreneurship.
Speaking, the co-founder and Head of Business of the firm, Lukman Shobowale, remarked that the programme is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility which aims to encourage the students leadership and entrepreneurship aspirations.
The former Student Union President of UNILORIN maintained that the programme was borne out of the need to look beyond the present and think of the future in respect to students entrepreneurs.
“It’s an idea targeted towards empowering the students who are owners of Small and Medium Enterprises as they strive to achieve financial independence.”
Meanwhile, in his own remark, the other co-founder of Dukiya who doubles as the Head of Strategy and Growth, Bayo Lawal, urged the beneficiaries of the grant to utilize the fund judiciously.
“It’s our belief that these grants will help the students entrepreneurs in upscaling their businesses. I want to urge them to increase their market visibility and multiply this opportunity in order to help others.
Meanwhile, a beneficiary, Akolade Aworinde, a 300 level student of History Education at the University said, “I’m really grateful for the opportunity granted to me to talk about my skill development and for the grant. Dukiya has done a great deed by impacting positivity and greatness in lives of many individuals.
However, AESA president, Awolaja thanked the Lagos-based firm for bankrolling the event and also appreciated the school authority for providing the enabling environment for the programme to thrive.
The event also witnessed presentation of award of excellence to lecturers and student leaders for their immense contributions to the development of the association.
