Nigeria Needs Young Minds With Zeal For Entrepreneurship– Ade.Ojo

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One of Nigeria’s most prominent entrepreneurs, investor and philanthropist, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, OON, has stressed the need for developing and mentoring young minds in entrepreneurship, especially students in tertiary institutions. He pointed out that this is critical for Nigeria to achieve true greatness.

Chief Ade.Ojo made this known recently at Sheraton By Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos where the new logo of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State was unveiled to a select audience of corporate icons, university dons and media executives.

At the occasion, two graduating students, Iyanu Oluyade and Gift Silas, held an audience that included banker and entrepreneur Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as well as ex-minister Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi spell bound as they shared spectacular entrepreneurship and academic experiences they gathered in their four years stay at Elizade University.

The major exploits, according to the two students, were garnered from the school’s unique internship/attachment programmes. Gift Silas particularly drew a lot of applause when she shared her experiences as a successful owner of a thriving fashion outfit.

An obviously excited university founder, Chief Ade.Ojo, who spoke further at the event, explained that the new logo is a step towards actualising his vision of creating a world class institution of higher learning, dedicated to the pursuit of academic, entrepreneurial and moral excellence. In the words of the erudite philanthropist, “we are unveiling this new identity to herald a new dawn in the life of our great institution established for the growth of knowledge, character as well as the total development of mankind. The new identity reflects the resolve of the university to breed young men and women who will break new grounds in all areas of human endeavours in accordance with global best practices”. He also appreciated specially, the National Universities Commission for their support in the approval process of the new logo.

Also at the event, the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Theophilus Fadayomi, spoke ardently as a man who carries the founder’s vision with great passion.  He traced the university’s records from 2013, when the university started with 13 programmes till date when a total of 31 fully accredited academic programmes are in their kitty. Also, students enrolment according, to Prof. Fadayomi has grown from 64 in 2013 to a total of 1,144 this year.

The acting VC equally revealed that attraction to the university lies in the school’s choice location at the luscious hills of Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State; the state-of-the-art-facilities for educational, physical and mental development; and her high calibre teaching and non-teaching staff who employ the latest information and communication technology in diverse areas.

The Pro-Chancellor of Elizade University, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede also spoke, extolling premium ingredients of excellence assembled by the management of Elizade University. He identified passionately with the vision of the founder, which is to create a world class university that can compete in all areas with top universities like Harvard, Oxford, Yale etc. Aig-Imoukhuede speaks further: “One of the things great universities are known for is their larger-than-life image. This is why you find people buy and proudly wear T-shirts of such schools across the globe. Many are ready to defend the school and identify as alumnus years after their exit. They last almost for eternity”.

The Pro- Chancellor also said that the University council would be unveiling an endowment programme and two new scholarship schemes soon as part of the efforts to create a world class university.

The scholarship would be for the winners of the founder’s golf challenge and The Pro-Chancellor’s fitness challenge.  Two students, male and female, will pick the star prizes for each activity when it is formally unveiled.