The Wife of the Osun State Governor, Mrs. Titilola Adeleke, has urged students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation as pathways to self-reliance and long-term success, assuring them of continued support for initiatives that empower young people through education and skills development.
Mrs. Adeleke made the call on Wednesday during a one-day Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovation Training organised for students of the university in Osogbo.
She said her office would continue to support programmes that promote education, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition for students, youths, women and girls, noting that sustained investment in young people remains essential to the development of Osun State.
Describing university students as the future of the state, she encouraged participants to make the most of the training by paying close attention, asking relevant questions and applying the knowledge and skills acquired to improve their future.
Commending the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Odunayo Adebooye, for initiating the programme, Adeleke described it as a commendable effort to equip students with innovative and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive world.
“We will continue to invest in our young people, and I encourage students to take the training seriously for their own benefit,” she said.
The governor’s wife stressed that every successful business begins with an idea, urging students not to rely solely on academic qualifications but to develop practical skills, nurture their talents and transform innovative ideas into successful ventures.
She also appreciated the university management for organising the programme and encouraged participants to believe in themselves, work hard and remain committed to achieving their goals.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebooye, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to producing graduates with entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and innovative thinking capable of driving national development.
He said UNIOSUN remained focused on building great minds, producing critical thinkers and equipping graduates with the capacity to solve challenges across key sectors of the economy.
Adebooye urged students to position themselves for opportunities in the global knowledge economy by continually acquiring relevant skills needed to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving world.
According to him, the training would expose participants to seasoned experts and professionals, enabling them to gain practical knowledge beyond the classroom.
“I urge students to maximise the benefits of the programme,” he said, while thanking Mrs. Adeleke for her unwavering support for the university’s entrepreneurship development initiatives.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovation, Prof. Adepoju Adigun, said the annual programme was designed to equip students with the innovative mindset required to thrive in today’s dynamic economic environment.
She explained that the initiative would demonstrate how innovative ideas could be transformed into viable businesses while preparing students for sustainable entrepreneurship and future business opportunities.
Adigun disclosed that participants would undertake a three-month internship programme tailored to their respective disciplines to enable them to gain practical industry experience.
She noted that the initiative was aimed at strengthening the university’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and enhancing students’ capacity for innovation and self-reliance, adding that the institution had continued to invest in entrepreneurship development to prepare graduates for life after school.
She thanked the Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers for their commitment to entrepreneurship education and urged students to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the programme.
Also speaking, the guest lecturer and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Computer Information and Engineering, Dr. Dayo Sobowale, emphasised the importance of transforming innovative ideas into successful business enterprises.
Sobowale said the human brain remained the foundation of creativity and idea generation, stressing that innovation is key to meaningful development. He urged students to discover their strengths, understand their uniqueness and channel their ideas towards creating value for society.