The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
The Director-General and his team were received by the Vice-Chancellor along with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Lucian Chukwu; Director, Quality Assurance & SERVICOM, Prof. Olufemi Saibu; Director, Central Industrial Liaison & Placement Unit (CILPU), Prof. Johnson Agunsoye; Director, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), Prof. Sunday Adebisi; Deans of the Faculties of Engineering, Management Sciences and Science, Prof. Obanishola Sadiq, Prof. A. A. Sulaimon and Prof. Elijah Oyeyemi as well as Principal Coordinator, CILPU, Kukoyi Adeshola.
During the visit, the Director-General spoke about the agency, its programmes and intention to make UNILAG one of its certified training institutes in South West Nigeria. He also declared the agency’s readiness to:
- support UNILAG’s entrepreneurship development efforts by putting its name behind an annual pitch competition,
- set up an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub in UNILAG and
- organise train-the-trainer programmes with the aim of reducing unemployment in the country.
Prof. Agunsoye and Mr. Kukoyi gave a brief overview of the SIWES programme in UNILAG and appealed that students of the University be provided internship opportunities at and through the Agency. Prof. Agunsoye also requested SMEDAN’s assistance in setting up hubs and labs on campus which would provide students the opportunity to carry out basic fabrication processes, small board electrification, develop building materials, among others.
Prof. Saibu applauded the agency’s intention to make UNILAG a certified skills centre, and suggested that SMEDAN identifies and match up industry needs with skills imparted on students of the University. He also suggested that SMEDAN collaborates with the University on its patent products; and create joint programmes to fill up the skill gap in order to reduce unemployment.
The Deans of the Faculties of Engineering, Management Sciences and Science: Prof. Obanishola Sadiq, Prof. A. A. Sulaimon and Prof. Elijah Oyeyemi in separate remarks also identified various possible areas of collaboration between UNILAG and SMEDAN.
Earlier while receiving the SMEDAN boss, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, affirmed the University’s readiness to partner with the Agency. She expressed optimism at the prospect of a great relationship with the agency.
After the meeting, the UNILAG Management Team as well as the SMEDAN boss and his entourage proceeded to Nithub UNILAG and Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), UNILAG for further interactions.
Report: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze
Photography: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze/Solomon Adelumola/Bayo Salau
