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The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Prof Adamu Ahmed, says the institution launched the ‘Create Before You Graduate’ to produce graduates capable of creating jobs for themselves and others.
Explaining the philosophy behind the programme, Prof Ahmed said their responsibility, as a university is not only to produce employable graduates but also to produce those who can create jobs for both themselves and others.
The vice-chancellor spoke at the launch of the programme, described the event as the “launch of an idea, a culture and a mindset”.
For generations, according to him, universities have prepared young people primarily to graduate, seek employment, and build careers.
“But the world into which our students are graduating has changed fundamentally”, he said.
Ahmed also explained that the jobs of tomorrow would increasingly be created by those who can innovate, solve problems, create value and build enterprises.
According to him, the desire of the university is to activate the enormous creative and entrepreneurial talent that exists among students.
He said ABU would encourage them to look around them, identify problems, develop solutions and turn those solutions into products, services, intellectual property and viable businesses.
“We want our students to understand that a university education should not only prepare you to look for an opportunity; it should also equip you to create one”, Ahmed stated.
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He also said the desire is to make ABU to become a place that produces generations of billionaires from its campus.
The VC is of the belief that this is possible given the talent, intellectual property, and creativity the university has.
He said what ABU must now do is to build the ecosystem that allows these talents to flourish.
Ahmed further said the ecosystem must include, among others, mentorship, incubation, access to technology, industry partnerships, and importantly, a university that encourages students to “dream big and act on those dreams”.
He appreciated the keynote speaker, Jelani Aliyu, the world-renowned automobile designer, for sharing his rich experience with students of the university.
He recalled that the keynote speaker was in ABU in 2016 when he delivered the university’s pre-convocation lecture.
Prof Ahmed said the automotive designer had consistently demonstrated a commitment to discovering, inspiring and nurturing talent among young people.
The VC was also appreciative of the chairman of the occasion, Prof Shehu Usman Abdullahi, whose presence demonstrated his continued commitment to the university and its young people.
He equally thanked the Federal Ministry of Finance, Corporate Affairs Commission, local organising committee, numerous students, and other several guests for participation.
