As part of efforts aimed at providing financial inclusion and bridging town and gown gaps, management of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, in partnership with Kwara State University, KWASU, entered into a three-year partnership.

Speaking at the formal signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Lagos, Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau, Ahmed ‘Tunde Popoola, described the partnership as a landmark collaboration between academia and industry, bridging the critical gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in the nation’s evolving financial services landscape.

To him, the three-year agreement, which is subject to renewal, embodies dedication to mutual reciprocity, quality assurance, and transformative impact.

Specifically, he disclosed the primary purpose of this MoU is to: establish joint research projects offering industry insights into socioeconomic issues in economics, finance, and technology; provision of yearly internships for three top KWASU students minimum second-class upper division in Economics, Business, Finance, and Computer Science, offering practical experience and career development support; yearly employability day training programme that will equip final-year students with real-time, industry-relevant skills in finance, banking, business, and technology, facilitating their confident transition into the competitive job market and CRC will commit to promoting B2C products within the KWASU community, while enabling periodic exchange of publications, best practices, and knowledge sharing through regular dialogues and facility utilisation..

On his part, Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, stated that the collaboration heralds a new era of academic-industry synergy, poised to produce research innovations, skilled graduates, and economic contributions that will resonate far beyond Kwara State.

To the don, said: “We also recognise that we cannot achieve this alone. For meaningful progress to happen, strong collaboration between academia and industry is foundational. Strategic partnerships bridge the gap between theory and practice, enhance curriculum relevance, expose students to real-world experience, and drive applied research that solves real problems. This understanding forms the foundation of the partnership we are unveiling today.”

Speaking further, he revealed: “The KWASU-CRC partnership focuses on critical areas such as finance, data science, credit management, and employability. Through this collaboration, our students – particularly in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, and Computer Science – will benefit from structured internships, industry exposure, and targeted employability training. Our faculty will also engage in joint research and knowledge exchange that strengthens both academic output and industry practice.

“For KWASU, the benefits are clear: improved graduate employability, industry-aligned curricula, enhanced faculty development, and a stronger institutional reputation. For CRC Credit Bureau Limited, this partnership provides access to a pool of talented young professionals, opportunities for collaborative research, and innovative insights from academia, while also advancing its corporate social responsibility objectives. This is indeed a partnership built on mutual value. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to CRC Credit Bureau Limited for embracing this vision and choosing KWASU as a strategic partner.”