Chrisland University has disclosed plans to build a world-class entrepreneurship centre and has introduced entrepreneurial courses at all levels as it brought together a conglomerate of experts who emphasized on the need to promote entrepreneurship in Nigerian institutions to drive economic growth and development in the country.

The experts projected their views on entrepreneurship during the University’s maiden entrepreneurship conference organised by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development Studies (CEDS), Chrisland University held on 15th September 2020.

Speaking at the Conference themed: “Entrepreneurship training in tertiary institutions in Nigeria: How effective?” the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola, in her opening remarks maintained that entrepreneurship becomes effective in institutions  when the students are provided with the necessary acumen that could drive them and this will contribute to the economic development of the country.

While speaking in an interview with CEOAFRICA reporters after the conference, Prof. Babalola said Chrisland University is planning towards having a world class entrepreneurship center, and the institution as the institution has introduced entrepreneurial courses across all levels as parts of efforts to ensure that students become independent after graduation.

According to her, Chrisland University is ready to partner with institutions and industries, among others in order to exchange ideas and empower entrepreneurs.

“We are going to be collaborating with some institutions of the world in the area of exchange programmes and other collaborative activities that will help strengthen our entrepreneurship development in the University. Entrepreneurship is dynamic, so we would be dynamic in other to move with trends,” she said and assured that the university would be focusing on building an institution of entrepreneurship.

“The effectiveness of our institution’s entrepreneurial training becomes visible and can change the world only when the true spirit of entrepreneurship is imbibed in our students,” she stated, adding that one of the major factors that could create jobs for graduate is the individuals’ develop of themselves through acquisition of skills that could enhance them.

The Vice Chancellor however mentioned that one of the aims of entrepreneurs is to drive employment generation and wealth creation, but most SMEs are faced with the problem of inadequate access to finance and vital platforms.

The Director of CEDS, Dr. Babatunde Agbi who also spoke with our correspondents said the aim of the entrepreneurship activities of the university is to produce graduates that will contribute to the country’s economy.

His words, “We have a philosophy that Chrisland University graduates shall be agents in value addition, opportunities creation, and wealth creation. That is our operational definition of what entrepreneurship is all about.”