A new cohort of entrepreneurs have received certificates of participation, marking their successful completion of 3rd Staff Skills Acquisition Programme organised by the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre, University of Lagos (ESDC, UNILAG).
The 12-week programme, designed to equip University staff with practical and entrepreneurial skills for sustainable livelihoods and additional income generation, culminated in an exhibition fair on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Glass House, Faculty of Education, UNILAG.
A total of three hundred and forty six (346) people registered for the annual programme, while two hundred and eighty (280) commenced training. At the end of the exercise, one hundred and ninety six (196) participants successfully completed the programme and received certificates of participation.
Participants were trained in diverse skills including digital marketing, graphic design, pattern drafting and fashion, solar panel essentials, shoe and leather works, interior decoration, food and confectionery, and home essentials, which covered the production of various household chemical products.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of ESDC, Professor Oladimeji J. Odetunde, who also spoke on behalf of University Management, welcomed participants to the final phase of their training journey.
Beyond the certificates and the celebration, Professor Odetunde reminded participants that the real work was only beginning. He emphasised that acquiring a practical skill was only the first step in the entrepreneurial journey, urging participants to complement their technical abilities with financial literacy, proper record keeping, effective marketing, and sound business management.
Setting the tone with an engaging ₦1,000 challenge, he asked participants how they could deploy the money to create value and still generate returns. The exercise drew responses from several participants and served as an introduction to his presentation on “ Financial Literacy and Record Keeping for Youth Entrepreneurs.”
Professor Odetunde explained that effective money management was central to the survival and growth of any business, stressing the need for entrepreneurs to distinguish between business funds and personal expenses. He urged participants to cultivate the discipline of keeping proper financial records, reinvesting in their businesses, and making informed decisions about their earnings.
The ESDC Director also highlighted the importance of social media marketing in growing a modern business, offering practical guidance on how participants could use digital platforms to promote their products, reach wider markets, and improve profitability.
For Professor Odetunde, the certificate was not an end in itself, but a reminder that the knowledge acquired must now be translated into viable enterprises and sustainable sources of income.
The Coordinator of the Skills Acquisition Programme, Dr. I. Victoria Abusomwan, described the completion of the programme as a significant achievement, commending participants for their attentiveness, resilience, and commitment throughout the training.
She noted that the exhibition provided an opportunity for participants to demonstrate the practical knowledge and skills acquired during the 12-week programme, and expressed appreciation to University Management for its continued support.
The celebration also featured a feedback session where participants shared how the training had influenced their skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial outlook.
During the session, Co-Coordinator, Dr. Kemi Onayemi, reflected on the cohort’s journey, and commended participants and trainers for their commitment. She noted that “lessons from this edition would inform stronger future cohorts”.
Attention then shifted to the exhibition, where participants proudly displayed the results of weeks of learning and practice. Fashion pieces, leather works, confectioneries, household chemicals, interior decoration products, and other creations transformed the venue into a lively showcase of skills, creativity, and entrepreneurial possibility.
For the participants, it marked the end of 12 weeks of training and the beginning of a new journey: taking what they had learnt from the classroom into the marketplace.
Through the Staff Skills Acquisition Programme, ESDC UNILAG continues to advance the University’s commitment to equipping its workforce with practical skills that create new economic opportunities, strengthen livelihoods, and foster a culture of entrepreneurship beyond the traditional workplace.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photgraphs: Samuel Dosunmu / Eniola B. Onabajo
