UNILORIN Innovation Hub plans student startups through contest
By Isaac Lewu
The Innovation Hub of the University of Ilorin has announced plans to organise a multidisciplinary innovation challenge to identify, develop and support promising student-led startups, promoting entrepreneurship and turning ideas into commercially viable ventures.
The Innovation Hub Manager, Dr Mutahir Oluwaseyi Oloyede, disclosed this recently while featuring on a special personality interview on UNILORIN 89.3 FM.
He outlined the programmes of the Hub for equipping students and researchers with skills to develop innovative solutions to societal problems. He said the challenge would bring together students from different Faculties to create technology-driven solutions, with selected teams pitching their ideas to judges, sponsors and potential investors at the grand finale.
Dr Oloyede said the competition would have three stages, beginning with expressions of interest from groups of two to five students from different Departments. Ideas would be screened and shortlisted before selected teams present their proposals to judges. A maximum of 10 ideas would reach the grand finale, where participants could attract investment and other support.
The initiative would identify winning ideas while preserving other promising submissions for further development. The Hub also hopes to help successful teams formalise their businesses and build sustainable startups before graduation. Participants would gain leadership, teamwork, management and other entrepreneurial skills.
Dr Oloyede, who is a former Ag. Head of the Department of Information Technology, said the Hub was open to students and staff, including lecturers and researchers with ideas requiring development. It provides a space for University community members to collaborate, exchange ideas and develop practical solutions capable of attracting investment and competing beyond the University.”
The Manager also revealed that some student-led projects were at different development stages. These included Malaria Detect, an artificial intelligence-based concept designed to identify malaria through symptoms, which is still being nurtured and has yet to enter testing. He also mentioned Face Trust, which had reached the testing stage after receiving a ₦15 million Federal Government grant. He expressed optimism that continued support would turn such initiatives into viable businesses.
Dr Oloyede commended the management of the University under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for establishing the Hub in line with the University’s Vision 1:10:500.
He said that the facility was designed to bridge academic learning and industry by ensuring graduates leave the University with certificates, entrepreneurial capabilities and potential businesses of their own.
