FUNAI CEE HOLDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR FOR STUDENTS

The Centre for Entrepreneurship & Employability (CEE) of the Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, is poised to inculcate into students an all-inclusive education in other to place them on the right pedestal to meet the demands of the 21^st century market. Consequently, the Centre organised a 2-day business development seminar for 200-level students of the University recently at the University auditorium.

A cross section of participating students during the seminar

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba in his opening remarks said the era of theoretical education was over, adding that every students of the University must imbibe entrepreneurial spirit in other to succeed in the present challenged world economy. Professor Nwajiuba who was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Professor Sunday Elom further added that skill acquisition training programmes were also being extended to interested youths of the host community as part of the University’s Corporate Social Responsibility, and charged the participating students to see the business development seminar as a key component of their stay in FUNAI.

DVC, Prof. Sunday Elom stressing the importance of entrepreneurship in today’s world

The Director of the Entrepreneurship and Employability Centre, Dr. Egwu Ogugua in his remarks said the Centre under his leadership would ensure that various relevant sellable skills were taught to students of the University to make them prospective job creators and employers of labour on graduation.

Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Employability, Dr. Ogugua Egwu speaking during the event

Ogugua stressed the importance of entrepreneurship and Business Development in stemming the tide of unemployment, especially now that white collar jobs were not readily available for the army of unemployed youths. He noted that it was based on the need to produce well-grounded graduates that could hold their own in any situation that informed the decision of the Centre to expose the students to the nitty-gritty of business development early in their academic life.

He further noted that entrepreneurship has multiplier effects in the society, adding that the only way out of joblessness among Nigerian graduates was to equip them with entrepreneurial and business development skills while still in school.

He also reiterated the commitment of the University authorities in ensuring that all FUNAI graduates were trained to create jobs on graduation rather than seek endlessly for unavailable white collar jobs.

The programme, a first of its kind in the University, afforded the 200-level students who were categorized into different business clusters the opportunity to present their business development plans in various sectors of the economy. While seasoned business judges were also on ground to assess the presentation of the students in other to determine their feasibility and practicability in the Nigerian economy.