Prof. Clement Kolawole, Vice-Chancellor of Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, says compulsory entrepreneurship and skills training remain critical to reducing graduate unemployment and producing job creators.
Kolawole said this on Friday during an entrepreneurship programme in the university.
The event was tagged “Sustainable Entrepreneurship Festival”.
It was facilitated by the Institute of Leadership Management and Productivity Department ( IMLPD) in collaboration with the university.
Kolawole said that the programme was designed to expose students to practical entrepreneurship through business idea development, pitching sessions, product showcasing and leadership training.
He said it was geared toward making the students job creators instead of job seekers.
“The institute will take them through the rudiments to ensure that our students have skills that can make them entrepreneurs.
“It is aimed at developing innovative ideas capable of addressing societal challenges and generating revenue.
“They have had the theory and teachings. What they are doing now is the practical part that will enable the students to come up with ideas capable of solving social problems,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said that the university’s partnership with the department had continued to equip students with practical and innovative skills.
“We have some students already working remotely for foreign companies while studying on campus, and by this skill, they are earning income for themselves.”
Kolawole said that, from the next academic session, every student admitted into the university would compulsorily enrol for a programme that would equip him or her with, at least, a skill.
In his remarks, Dr. Olatunji Fadeyi, Acting Registrar of IMLPD, thanked the institution for the partnership.
He urged the students to embrace entrepreneurship, develop innovative skills and provide solutions to societal challenges.
“We encourage students to dream big, nurture innovative ideas and acquire entrepreneurial skills capable of transforming silent thoughts into practical solutions that address pressing societal and economic challenges,” he said.
The Department of Political Science of Trinity University had on Thursday presented a stage play aimed at equipping students with skills for diplomacy, leadership and decision making.
The play entitled ‘Summit of Shadows’ was also aimed at promoting democracy.
Kolawole said at the event that there was the need to teach the youth with skills for conflict resolution, negotiation and diplomacy through drama.
Mr Melody Iyang, a final year student of Political Science and creator of the drama, said that the event would become annual and attract diplomats, policymakers and others to mentor students on diplomacy and policy making.
