Ade-Ojo Offers N5m Capital for Graduand’s Business Proposal

James Sowole in Akure

The Proprietor of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo has given a start-up capital of N5 million to one of the graduates of the institution, Abisola Animasaun.

The institution produced 105 graduates at its second convocation ceremony, which attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka and the Prof Emeritus, Ayo Banjo of the University of Ibadan.

Ade-Ojo, who presented the cheque to Animasaun, said the prize was given under the Go Higher Business Empowerment Award initiative to mark his 80 birthday, which coincides with his university’s second convocation.

He explained that Animasaun, a graduate of Mass Communication won the award with her business proposal that surpassed those of 30 other applicants. The awardee’s proposal was for the establishment of a company, Gas-Urgently, said to be the first mobile cooking gas filling station in the country.

“Animasaun is a clear demonstration of the role of the university in training the mind. Here is a graduate of Mass Communication, who applied her knowledge to fill a gap in the society. Her company, called Gas-Urgently will be the first mobile cooking gas filling station in the country,” Ade-Ojo said.

He added that one of the dreams for the university is to train and develop the minds of its students, which is already being pursued vigorously with the kind of knowledge being inculcated in the students.

“The university throws up various courses; the real essence of these courses is to develop competencies, including critical and creative thinking, analytical capabilities and the ability to think out of the box. These are all transferable skills, which will enable our students to be tomorrow’s competent leaders.”

He said some of the richest men in the world today are men who were able to innovate by applying their knowledge to fill the existing gap in the market of goods and services, adding that the university is training the students to be able to apply their dreams regardless of the type of degree they take out of the institution.

He therefore admonished the 105 graduands to think out of the box on what they can do, saying that entrepreneurship is the real thing now. “For instance, as you are leaving here today, do not go home and sit down waiting for that job that is not existing now if it barbing, go to the barber beside your house, learn how to barb, you will be a better barber with the education you have.”

Apart from various prizes presented to exceptional graduands, the university offered automatic employment to all 16 graduates that made first class.

Also, a member of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Funke Osibodu offered automatic employment to all the first class and second class upper division graduates in Accounting and Computer Science.