As part of activities marking the 2025 International Students’ Day, the Entrepreneurship Expo Preliminary Defence was held on Wednesday at the Kwara State Ministry of Tertiary Education Conference Hall, Ilorin.
The event, themed “Entrepreneurship for Development: Igniting Students as Catalysts for Economic Prosperity,” brought together creative and business-minded students from various tertiary institutions across the state to present and defend their business proposals before a panel of judges.
The exercise aimed to nurture innovation, sharpen entrepreneurial skills, and encourage self-reliance among students in line with the state government’s commitment to youth empowerment and skills development.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Judge, Prof. Mubarak Sanni, who is also the Director, Centre for Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training, Kwara State University, Malete, said the program was designed to identify and support student entrepreneurs with creative and viable business ideas.
He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his administration’s sustained investment in entrepreneurship and youth development, noting that the initiative continues to create opportunities for students to thrive beyond the classroom.
“This initiative focuses on bringing out the talents in our tertiary institution students. It is a commendable step towards building an economically self-reliant generation,” Prof. Sanni said.
Also speaking after the event, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Hon. Salami Wasiu Onidugbe, reiterated that the aim of the program is to empower students to become job creators rather than job seekers.
He encouraged participants to remain consistent and innovative in their pursuits, assuring them that the most outstanding business ideas will be rewarded with financial grants to support their growth.
“Entrepreneurship remains a viable pathway to youth empowerment and national development. We want our students to embrace creativity, resilience, and self-belief as they build their future,”
he added.
Following the screening process, 15 outstanding student-owned businesses will be selected to receive financial support and grants for expansion. Many of the participating students described the experience as “thrilling, insightful, and a laudable initiative” by the state government.
The Entrepreneurship Expo serves as a prelude to the 2025 International Students’ Day Celebration, scheduled for November 17, and reaffirms the Kwara State Government’s continued commitment to promoting youth innovation, enterprise, and economic growth.