Fresh undergraduate students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, from the Faculties of Management and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Education, and the College of Health Sciences, have been encouraged to engage in entrepreneurship skills acquisition to become business owners.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, represented by the Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Aliyu Bello, gave the advice while inaugurating a two-day entrepreneurial orientation workshop organized by the Malam Ibrahim Aliyu Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED) at the University auditorium.

Professor Adamu emphasized the importance of leveraging on entrepreneurship skills acquired during university education to explore various self-employment opportunities.

He explained that the goal of the entrepreneurship course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become self-employed and potential employers.

The Vice Chancellor highlighted that the workshop aims to prepare students for life after university by instilling an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to start and develop their own businesses instead of remaining jobless after graduation.

In his welcome address, the Director of the Malam Ibrahim Aliyu Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED), Professor Mohammed Abubakar Mawoli congratulated the 100-level students on their participation and noted the National Universities Commission (NUC)’s directive in its new curriculum, mandates entrepreneurship skills development for all O’level students.

In their seprate Presention, the former Director of the Center Professor Abubakar Sadiq Gudugi, Hajiya Fatima Zahra, a lecturer from the Department of Accounting; Zainab Saidu, an alumni from the Department of Computer Science and a successful entrepreneur; and Hassan Mustapha, an alumni and shoe entrepreneur, shared their success stories.

They underscored the importance of acquiring the necessary skills to become successful entrepreneurs, citing the common pitfalls of businesses started without proper knowledge.

The speakers advised aspiring entrepreneurs to develop a passion for their chosen ventures, which helps in overcoming initial challenges and sourcing startup capital. They stressed that businesses driven by genuine interest are more likely to succeed than those started solely by imitating others.

In his closing remarks, the University Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki, represented by the Establishment Secretary, Mr. Sunday Gana, congratulated the newly admitted students on their admission and praised the CIED for organizing the impactful workshop.

He acknowledged the Vice Chancellor and resource persons for their valuable contributions and thanked the Entrepreneurship Centre staff for their relentless support.