Director, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), University of Lagos (UNILAG) Director, ARUA Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development (ARUA CoE-USD) Professor Sunday Adebisi is a distinguished academic, administrator, and visionary leader whose contributions to education, research, and community development have significantly elevated the academic standards at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Through his strategic leadership, UNILAG has emerged as the premier hub in Nigeria and Africa for research in Youth Unemployment and Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
His core research focuses on entrepreneurship, small business development, and strategic management—areas critical to driving inclusive economic growth across the African continent.
Key Leadership & Institutional Contributions
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Pioneer of Campus Innovation: Under his direction, the UNILAG ESDC became the first innovation hub in any Nigerian university, fostering a culture of self-reliance, creativity, and practical skill-building.
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Mass Skill Development: He has equipped over 20,000 students with practical skills and entrepreneurial mindsets, shifting the paradigm of entrepreneurship education in Nigeria.
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UNILAG Business School (ULBS): A founding team member of ULBS, he leads the teaching and knowledge facilitation of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management.
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Postgraduate Leadership: He serves as the Lead of the Doctor of Entrepreneurship Development (DED) and the Masters in Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Management (MEDIM) programs.
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Global Collaborator: He served as the Lead Researcher (Rocket Data Star) for the Regional Entrepreneurship Accelerated Program (REAP), a collaboration between UNILAG and MIT (USA).
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Track Expert: Recognized as a Track Expert for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.
Major Awards & Grants
Professor Adebisi has an extensive portfolio of high-level academic and professional accolades, including:
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First Occupier Professor: Achieved the status of Double Professor and became the first occupier of the Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies (2021–2024).
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ARUA Grant Winner (£600,000): Secured the UKRI-GCRF ARUA Capacity Building Grant for the “Partnership, Research and Capacity Building for Youth Unemployment Solutions in Africa (PRAC 4 YUSA)” project, spanning Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.
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ARUA CoE-USD Host: Won the hosting rights for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development Centre, making UNILAG the continental leader for this initiative.
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SNEPCo Clean Cookstoves Project ($500,000): Serves as Project Manager and Research Advisor for the Commercial Pilot of the M(E)thanol Clean Cookstoves Project funded by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.
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Distinguished Visiting Professor Fellowship: Awarded by the John Papajohn Entrepreneurship Centre, University of Iowa, USA (2022).
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EFMD Best African Case (2016): Recipient of the prestigious award in Berlin, Germany.
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BAM Best Full Paper (2014): Award Winner at the World Conference of the British Academy of Management in Performance Management.
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Visiting Scholar Award (2013): Hosted by Soochow University, China.
Vision for Africa
Professor Adebisi’s ultimate passion is to replicate the “Silicon Valley” model within Africa to spur sporadic innovation, eradicate poverty, and drive economic self-sufficiency. He is committed to changing the mindset of African youths from queuing for unavailable jobs to creating startups right from campus. By transforming these startups into sustainable businesses, he aims to build globally competitive African enterprises. To achieve this, he actively drives aggressive partnerships between academia and the private sector.
Professional Memberships
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Fellow, Institute of Certified Business Consultant (FICBC)
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Fellow, Association of Enterprise Risk Professionals (FAERP)
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Member, Academy of International Business (AIB), USA
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Member, Strategic Management Society (SMS), USA
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Member, British Academy of Management (BAM), UK
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Member, The Academy of Management, Nigeria (TAMN)
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Member, Nigerian Society for Financial Research (NSFR)
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Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM Chartered)
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Member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN)
Affiliated Global Faculty & Research Partners
The ARUA CoE-USD collaborates with top researchers and allies across Africa, the UK, and North America:
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South Africa: Prof. Abimbola Windapo (University of Cape Town), Prof. Kesh Govinder (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
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Ghana: Dr. Charles Godfred Ackah, Dr. Pricilla Bafour (University of Ghana, Legon)
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Kenya: Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Prof. Jackson Kivui Maalu, Dr. Joy Mueni Kiiru (University of Nairobi), Prof. Grace Wamue-Ngare (Kenyatta University)
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Egypt: Prof. Ayman Ismail (American University in Cairo)
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Zambia: Prof. Jameson Mbale (Copperbelt University)
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Nigeria: Dr. Femi Obembe (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife)
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United States: Dimy Doresca (University of Iowa)
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Canada: Prof. Tony Bailetti (Carleton University, Ottawa)
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United Kingdom: Prof. Kirk Semple (Lancaster University), Prof. Joan Lockyer (Coventry University)
Media, Publications & Evidences
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Contact Information
