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FUTA STUDENTS GET TIPS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT


FUTA STUDENTS GET TIPS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Joseph Fuwape has reminded students of the University about abundant opportunities around them that can be explored. He said this during the mid- session training lectures organized by the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CENT) for 300 level students of the Institution. Declaring the two-day programme open, Professor Fuwape, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development, Professor Philip Oguntunde said “this is a rare opportunity for you all. In this university, through our dynamic programmes aimed at impacting our students, we established Centers that organizes trainings that are entrepreneurial in nature. We believe our students need skills that can place them ahead of their peers and give them hedge in the labour market. This is why the Centre for Entrepreneurship gives practical value to the theoretical teachings in the classroom. The aim is to build a total man/woman for the future. So seek for opportunities that are always available for the determined soul. Look out for that particular message meant for you because there are new skills that will help you in the future.” Speaking further, he said it has become imperative for everyone to learn a skill that can fetch him or her a living because of non-availability of white collar jobs. This is why the emphasis in higher institutions of learning is on how to build entrepreneurs.

In her address, the Director of CENT, Professor Helen Ogunsuyi said the programme is specifically tailored towards developing the mindset of students to master business development and sustainable strategies, interpersonal skills and source of funding for enterprise development. She commended the effort  and commitment of all trainers, trainees, supervisors and staff of CENT in ensuring that the training programme for 2018/2019 session which is midway run smoothly. Ogunsuyi said the training exercise engages 150 trainers with over 4,500 students of 300 level in over 90 skills which are broadly classified into fourteen main enterprises.  She called on students to take the lecture serious so as to garner valuable information that will help develop their enterprise acumen that will be sustainable and guarantee their future.

Professionals in different enterprises took the students through different value enhancing lectures. The Director General, International Strategies Institute, Akure, Dr. C Nnaemeka and Mr. Okeke of the same Institute who spoke on the topic Business Development and Sustainable Strategies emphasized the importance of having established vision, mission, core values, business models, approach, strategies that will guarantee business survival and sustainability. They emphasized the importance of character, competence and discretion for strategic business development.

Engineer Aduwo Ayodeji, a FUTA alumnus and Chief Executive Officer of Bold Concepts and Stanbless Nigeria Limited located in Lagos who spoke on Source of Funding for Enterprise Development stressed the importance of money in business. He said as important as money is, a business idea is more important. He gave several examples of people who are rich but with no business idea. He thus urged students to develop business ideas that are sustainable. He described money as Science that has principles and strategies and gave a triangular illustration of key elements in business to include the Entrepreneur, the Product and the Customer. Speaking on Traditional and Digital Marketing, a team from Sanstonz Consulting Limited, Abuja led by Bolakale Aduloju said digital marketing and skills which is the in-thing today make business global and more competitive. He advised students to leverage on digital marketing to grow their businesses and skills by adopting the SMART principle (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reliable and Timely).

In a goodwill speech, the President of FUTA Alumni worldwide, Mr. Olaitan Adesomoju encouraged the students to take whatever opportunity that comes their way through training from the University seriously. According to him such value adding trainings are very scarce to come by and also expensive. He said “we never had this kind of opportunities you have today. In our days we paid through the nose for such trainings and also outside the city of Akure. So I implore you to take this opportunity and future opportunities seriously. Some of us are what we are today because of the trainings we got from FUTA. This institution invested a lot in us and we are proud to be alumni today.” He commended the University management and Director and staff of CENT for organizing the training and expressed the readiness of the alumni to key into every opportunity that will add value to the future of the students.