No fewer than 200 students drawn from 10 tertiary institutions across Ondo State have received business start-up kits under an entrepreneurship empowerment initiative organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in partnership with the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The beneficiaries received various vocational tools, including industrial sewing machines, deep freezers, power generators and other equipment aimed at helping students establish and sustain small-scale businesses while pursuing their academic programmes.
The empowerment programme was held during the second edition of the “Students to CEO” Entrepreneurship Summit, themed “Unlocking Ondo State Students’ Potential for Economic Growth,” at Deji Hall, Ojaja Park, Akure.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC), Ondo Axis, Adekanye Adeboye, said the initiative was designed to encourage self-reliance among students and challenge the belief that academic qualifications alone guarantee success in today’s economy.
According to him, beneficiaries were selected based on demonstrated skills and interest in areas such as fashion design, tailoring and technology-related ventures. He explained that 20 students were chosen from each of the participating institutions to ensure fairness and broad representation.
Adeboye urged the recipients to make productive use of the equipment, stressing that the programme was intended to create future employers of labour rather than job seekers.
Also speaking, NANS National President, Babatunde Akinteye, described entrepreneurship as a critical pathway to tackling youth unemployment and boosting economic development. He noted that several beneficiaries from previous editions of the programme had successfully built thriving businesses and become employers in their respective fields.
Akinteye called on governments at all levels to intensify support for initiatives that equip young people with practical skills and resources, noting that Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of its greatest assets.
He added that with a significant percentage of the country’s population made up of young people and students, investments in entrepreneurship and innovation would play a vital role in driving future economic growth.
Chairman of the planning committee, Lemprioritizele, warned beneficiaries against selling the equipment, stating that a monitoring committee had been established to track the utilisation of the items and ensure the objectives of the programme were achieved.
Organisers expressed optimism that future editions of the summit would accommodate more students and further expand opportunities for youth empowerment across the state.
