Unilag Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre facilitates Mindset Change for Academic Development in Entrepreneurship Training for Babcock University Lecturers

For Universities to develop a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the growth of student and faculty entrepreneurs, there is a need for consistent and structured capacity development initiatives.

The ARUA Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills development in partnership with the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre recently delivered a three day workshop held from Tuesday, 6th to Thursday, 8th September, 2022 for Staff of Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State.

The workshop titled Mindset-Change for Academic Development in Entrepreneurship (MADE) was co-created in a partnership by University of Lagos Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre, ARUA Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development and the Babcock University Entrepreneurship Centre. The goal was to develop the capacity of Babcock University Staff to support the development of student and faculty entrepreneurs that will co-create the Babcock entrepreneurial ecosystem as it veers into becoming an entrepreneurial University.

The Tailor made workshop was delivered with hands on and practical activities that created memorable learning experiences in design thinking, stakeholder engagement, entrepreneurship pedagogy and innovativeness for over 150 lecturers drawn from all departments of Babcock University. In attendance also was the Babcock University President, Professor Ademola S. Tayo ably represented by the Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor Philemon Amanze, the Director, Entrepreneurship Centre Director, Dr. Ayodeji Ajibade and other members of the management team.

The facilitating team was led by Professor Sunday Abayomi Adebisi, (the present Wale Adenuga Professorial Chair for Entrepreneurship ). Other members of the team are Dr. Ayodele Shittu, Dr. Yinusa Oyekunle, Dr Bukola Amao-Taiwo and Ms Jennifer Ezenwankwo.

The three day workshop was rounded off with a pitching competition that involved ten teams pitching various ideas and innovations including power generation, waste management, malariapreneurship, and paper recycling.      

In response, one of the participants of the workshop had this to say ” I am happy for the opportunity to be a participant in this workshop. My mindset about entrepreneurship has been redirected. I now understand the need for value creation that speaks to the need of my customers. I am inspired and will also motivate my students to know that anything is achievable with the right team.”

In the his closing speech during pitching competition, the Babcock President applauded the Unilag team and looked forward to further collaborations. He also promised to reward the winning teams and also provide support that will ensure that the ideas emerge as sustainable businesses.