UNITED STATE UNIVERSITY TRAINS UNIOSUN STAFF, STUDENTS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

No fewer than thirty-nine staff and students of Osun State University enjoyed a boost in their respective academic records and future prospects, following their participation in a five-day entrepreneurship workshop held in the University from 31st July to 4th August, 2017.

The workshop is a brainchild of partnership between the Osun State University and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, United States with Professor Albert Ayeni, a Crop Research Specialist and Leader of Entrepreneurship Agriculture Programme at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of New Jersey, United States, as Facilitator.

The participants at the workshop, including 29 members of staff and 10 students, were drawn from the six campuses of the University. The workshop was declared open by the Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola at a short opening ceremony, which was also attended by some other members of the University Management. The first day of the workshop, started at 11am and lasted till 4pm, with breaks for tea-break and lunch break.

The second day of the workshop include a field trip to facilitate experiential experiences in the participants. The field trips involved visiting both the O.R.T. farms Ejigbo junction and E99 Farms Ede, in Osun State. The trip was particularly enlightening as it afforded the participants the opportunity to interact with the Management of these farms and see in real life some of the issues discussed by the facilitator.

On the third day, the workshop moved back to class for teaching/presentation by the facilitator. Among other things, the participants were separated into groups to prepare a business plan for presentation on the last day of the workshop. A take-home examination was also given to the participants to be submitted online. 

On the last day of the workshop, the groups presented their business plans, which were critiqued and scored by all participants and the feedback noted by each group. 

Among other things, participants were introduced to the description, importance, urgency, practice of entrepreneurship and how to prepare business plans. The feedback from participants revealed that the workshop was both timely and educative.

In his remarks at the end of the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola thanked the facilitator for his contribution toward the development of staff and students of the University. He also thanked Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, United States for her partnership with Osun State University towards the development of University education in Nigeria 

He urged participants to come up with viable business ideas, assuring them that the University would fund such business plans as appropriate. 

In his remarks, Professor Ayeni tasked the participants to think not only about themselves but also about the development of their communities as they develop their entrepreneurial abilities. The workshop closed with the presentation of certificates to the participants by the Vice-Chancellor.