The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Monday, February 10, 2025 welcomed a team of officials from the Bank of Industry (BOI) and National Universities Commission (NUC) for an on-site evaluation, as a follow-up to the pre-selection of the University as one of the participating institutions in the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) project.
The visiting team, led by Mrs. Abimbola Soyode of BOI, was received in the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room on the 10th floor of Senate House by senior members of the UNILAG Management team, Directors, Heads of Department, and relevant faculty members.
While providing a brief background on the project, Director of the Adetokunbo Sofoluwe Centre for Information Technology and Systems (ABS-CITS), Professor Hakeem O. Amuda explained that “the iDICE project is a key national initiative designed to promote digital innovation and creative enterprises within Nigeria’s academic institutions”.
In her welcome remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Professor Bolanle Oboh, who represented the Vice-Chancellor expressed the institution’s readiness to fully engage in the iDICE initiative, adding that “the University of Lagos has long been a hub for innovation, with several ongoing projects designed to nurture creative and entrepreneurial talent”.
She emphasized the institution’s commitment to ensuring that its students and staff are equipped with the skills to thrive in the digital and creative industries. According to her, “We have several hubs across the campus that speak to the core vision of the iDICE project, and we’ve identified our dedicated Incubation Zone as the site for the project. This will serve as a focal point for the project, providing a nurturing environment for digital and creative innovation.”
Similarly, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, who has been actively involved in the establishment of creative enterprise initiatives within the University, reiterated the institution’s determination to foster and empower young entrepreneurs within the university.
Her words “…the University’s ongoing efforts through various hubs on campus to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among youths, not just staff and students of UNILAG, align perfectly with the project’s goals of driving economic growth and technological advancement in Nigeria”.
In response, Mrs. Soyode expressed the belief that the University is well-equipped to meet the expectations of the iDICE project, highlighting the institution’s strong track record of innovation and its solid infrastructure for driving digital transformation and creative industries.
At the end of the welcome meeting at Senate House, the visiting team moved to the Design Studio closely situated beside the Entrepreneurship Skill Development Centre (ESDC) where it commenced the onsite evaluation of the University.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Samuel Olaifa Dosunmu
