The University of Ibadan (UI), in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has intensified efforts to promote entrepreneurship education with a train-the-trainer workshop aimed at equipping students with the skills required to establish and manage successful businesses.

The one-day workshop, organised by the university’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), brought together members of the Students’ Union executive, Students’ Representative Council, faculty presidents, departmental and hall chairpersons, as well as student entrepreneurs and innovators.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Juwon Arotiba, said universities must move beyond conventional classroom teaching to produce graduates capable of solving problems, creating value and driving economic development.

Arotiba, who spoke on the theme, “Start-up Entrepreneurship and Business Planning,” described the programme as timely, noting that entrepreneurship had become central to sustainable development in an era driven by rapid technological advancement and global connectivity.

According to him, the university is committed to producing graduates who are not merely consumers of technology but innovators capable of building globally competitive enterprises while addressing local challenges.

“The future of education must transcend the classroom. It should equip learners with the capacity to identify problems, design solutions and create value,” he said.

He added that the train-the-trainer model would create a multiplier effect by empowering participants to transfer entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to other students across the institution.

Arotiba also urged participants to take advantage of opportunities in the digital economy, describing sectors such as financial technology, precision agriculture, healthcare innovation and the creative industry as areas with immense entrepreneurial potential.

He reiterated the university’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application through research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Prof. Sherifat Aboaba, said the workshop was designed to prepare student leaders to serve as peer educators, mentors and advocates of entrepreneurship within their faculties, departments and halls of residence.

She explained that participants received training in opportunity identification, creativity and innovation, business model development, business planning, financial literacy, marketing strategies, access to funding opportunities and facilitation techniques.

The workshop featured presentations by the Chief Executive Officer of Soupah Limited, Ifeoluwa Olatayo; Managing Director of Prudencia Resources Limited, Abayomi Ogunsanya; the Dean of Students, Prof. Ademola Lewis; and CEI facilitator, Mrs. Olubukola Yomi-Akinola.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof. Simisola Akintola; Digital Finance Data Specialist at the Sanofi Innovation Hub, Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Ibrahim Hammed; and the President of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, Temidayo Adeboye.