In respect to bridging of gap between the town and gown, Professor Ayotola Aremu has stated explicitly reasons why the society should build confidence in universities as part of the solution for the country.

In an exclusive interview with CEOAfrica on the ‘COMMUNITY TODAY’ an online TV program, Prof. Ayotola Aremu, the Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), University of Ibadan said that the university was  initially set up to provide human resources for the public service.

 She recalled that back then, before students finish their degree program, they were employed into the civil service or they take up teaching job and this has been the trend for a very long time but reverse is the case in this era that we are because things are changing but the society is not changing with it.

Prof. Aremu (R) with the anchor, Cletus Ilobanofor (L)

Prof Aremu urges student s to think outside the box by developing an entrepreneurial mindset right before they graduate irrespective of their field of study and stop having the notion of getting a white collar job but be characterized by the creation of new ideas themselves.

She also pointed out the fact that lecturers were trained for a different mission entirely but since things have changed, the lecturers through their acquired skill have had to adapt, innovate and change. She noted that change is a difficult process that takes time.

She added “Before the university can produce students with entrepreneurial mindset, it must start with the lecture, they must be passionate about entrepreneurship in order to inculcate it into their students because students cannot be better than their lecturer in the aspect of mind opening.”

Prof. Aremu further explained that the society has seen universities forthcoming over the years as solutions to the societal problem but have lost their confidence and have been disconnected from the institution. She noted however that the only way to build confidence back in the institution is through centers like (CEI) where people in the cooperate society are being met.

Prof. Aremu Flanked by entourage and journalists

Towards being a solution to the society, Prof. Aremu said that CEI is more practical withtheir focus on how to develop entrepreneurial skill in students and train student who will give back into academics the practical aspect they have experimented outside beyond the theoretical aspect they were initially taught.

She concluded by saying that CEI is not only within the walls of certifying students but the center is spreading its tentacles towards starting programs and workshop for members of the public who are entrepreneur driven for a certain period of time in order to properly orient them.