The Graduate With The Best Business Proposal Wins N5m

“ The knowledge industry has moved away from mere paper qualifications. Countries, the world over, combine academic excellence with skills acquisition which is the basis for any nation’s economic prosperity…I encourage you not only to be serious in your academic pursuit but to also arm yourselves with skills that will make you self-sufficient and contributor to your country’s growth and development “ – Rotimi Makanjuola

The industry-based academic programme is regarded as a prerequisite for students to be self-reliant and have an edge in the employment market.

The Chancellor of Edo University Iyamoh (EUI), Mr Aderemi Makanjuola has commended the University for announcing a prize of N5 million prize for any graduate with the best entrepreneurial proposal. This, he said, will encourage students to embrace skills that will make them become self-sufficient.

Chidi Agomuo, a third-year student of Edo University, Iyamho, was optimistic that he would not roam the streets in a search of a non-existent white-collar job; but will be one of the country’s employers of labour at the end of his academic career.

His optimism stemmed from his training as a fashion designer even before he gained admission into the university. Before then, he had been taking care of himself and his siblings from the proceeds of his handicraft.

Makanjuola praised the university authorities for announcing a prize of N5 million for any graduate with the best proposal at the end of the maiden convocation. Chidi pledged to do his best to be a beneficiary.

Makanjuola had, at the elaborate ceremony on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at the sleepy town of Iyamho identified the industry based academic programme which he said is one of the qualities that stood the institution out.

He further said such programmes would prepare students and give them an edge in the employment market. He described Edo University, Iyamoh, as a centre of entrepreneurship that would equip students with vocational skills.

Makanjuola said: “The idea behind the entrepreneurship training in Edo University, Iyamoh, is that the citadel of learning is not only preparing the students for the labour market, but they will become employers of labour.”

He, therefore, advised the students to take their studies serious and aim at being one of the great employers of labour by engaging themselves in skills that would not only make them self-reliant but also contributors to the country’s economy. He also encouraged them to be studious as some of them would be great academics.

“The knowledge industry has moved away from mere paper qualifications. Countries, the world over, combine academic excellence with skills acquisition which is the basis for any nation’s economic prosperity.

“I, therefore, encourage you not only to be serious in your academic pursuit but to also arm yourselves with skills that will make you self-sufficient and contributor to your country’s growth and development,” he said.

The university town was ecstatic as unprecedented crowd thronged the city when the Caverton boss was appointed as first Chancellor of Edo University, Iyamho, and conferred with an honorary Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) during the first convocation of the university which was established in 2016 by the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

Makanjuola’s appointment as the first Chancellor of the university may possibly be as a result of his big heart for the needy and institutions in the country that produce the needed manpower for the country’s progress.

Checks on his philanthropy indicate that, over the years, his impact has been felt in most of the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy; be it education, health and well-being of the less privileged. Being a man of means, his frequent intervention in tertiary education has not gone unnoticed.

A lover of education, the school managed by the Makanjuola family has continued to provide quality education for Nigerians. He has made huge interventions in tertiary education in different parts of the country.

From Minna to Summit University Offa and Lagos State University campuses, he has built and donated 500-seater multi-purpose halls respectively.

Also of recent, he donated, through his Caverton Foundation, a multi-million naira worth of Molecular Biology Laboratory to the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASCOM).

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Authorities of Edo University, Iyamho regard partnership with the philanthropist as one of the good things that have happened to the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor said: “Makanjuola’s association with the institution was a big boost in the efforts to make the state-owned university world-class. We thank the newly installed Chancellor for accepting the challenge.”

Speaking in a similar manner, acting Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Emeritus Kimbe Audu hailed the vision of the founding fathers of the institution in establishing a university that would be a model for the 21st Century.

He said: “The vision of a centre of excellence was already yielding results in terms of quality education of world standard, which has prompted many parents to enrol their wards in the school. I have no doubt that the management will continue to keep the flame of excellence burning.”

The Caverton boss expressed delight at his appointment as Chancellor of the institution by the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

He said: “I deeply appreciate this honour done to me. You have introduced me into a new hall of fame for which I am most grateful. I learnt about this university and its uniqueness through friends and associates who told me that Edo University, Iyamho, is the Harvard, Cambridge and IMT of our time. I was not in doubt of this claim because I know that great things are usually found in the heart, as Heart Beat of the Nation.

“I see Edo State redefining education in Nigeria. It is with this sense that I accept the offer from His Excellency, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to be the first Chancellor of this great institution of higher learning.

“Nigeria has been yearning for this kind of education since independence, but no one was ready to face the challenge and come up with a world-class university of this status. I must commend the founding fathers of the University for their foresight in establishing a university that competes favourably with Ivy League universities such as Cambridge and Harvard. I must say that EUI’s facilities are among the best in the world.”

Makanjuola commended the management and pioneer graduates. He said: “I am also confident that with the kind of management team in place, facilities, environment and members of staff, the students and, indeed, the pioneer graduates of the university, are set to take over the world with the knowledge they have acquired.”

He also congratulated their parents on the decision they took in sending their children and wards to EUI.

“I am aware that all the programmes in the university have passed through the National Universities Commission assessment and accreditation with a minimum of 82 per cent; far above the NUC benchmark of 70 per cent required for full accreditation status. This is indicative of the fact that the university is blessed with a team of dedicated lecturers and administrative members of staff that are first among equals,” he said.

Those who know Makanjuola say his appointment was an honour well deserved.

On his appointment as Chancellor, one of his friends Oba Otudeko said: “It is a double honour, the university has chosen well because he will bring his wealth of experience which he has used successfully in his career to the helm of affairs of this great institution.

“This is a call to duty, a call to serve and I have no doubt that he will excel in this role. I wish him God’s blessing, longevity, good health to be of service to God, humanity and society at large.”

Continuing, the monarch said: “He is a person of good character, a man of uprightness, transparency, accountability and a dependable friend. He is positive and constructive and someone who is particular about humanity and society at large.”

Sir Alex Onabanjo also said: “I am so happy that the university decided to choose an astute Chancellor. I am also grateful to God Almighty for the double honour of his being the first Chancellor and being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree. The honorary degree happens to be the first to be bestowed on anybody since the inception of the university.”

Smith, another of his friends, also praised Makanjuola for the honour bestowed on him: He said: “It is an honour well-deserved because Makanjuola is a thorough person. It is befitting that the university recognised that kind of person to be at the helms of their affairs. He is a man with a Midas touch and I am not surprised that the university reached out to him to be their Chancellor. They have chosen right.

“Apart from this, I am impressed with the university. The infrastructure is excellent for an out-of-town university. I would recommend Nigerians to send their children here. I am sure that is why my friend accepted the offer. I wish him good health and long life.”

Adebayo Sarumi said: “His appointment as the first Chancellor of the university is in recognition of the best he has given to the society. I don’t need to reel off his numerous achievements. I wish him well.”

His son, Rotimi said, “I feel very proud and excited because it is an honour well deserved.”

“ The knowledge industry has moved away from mere paper qualifications. Countries, the world over, combine academic excellence with skills acquisition which is the basis for any nation’s economic prosperity…I encourage you not only to be serious in your academic pursuit but to also arm yourselves with skills that will make you self-sufficient and contributor to your country’s growth and development “