Egbewole seeks stronger industry partnerships
By Isaac Lewu
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has called for stronger collaboration among industries and tertiary institutions to ensure that graduates are not only intellectually sound but are also equipped with entrepreneurial and practical skills needed to be relevant in the modern workplace.
Prof. Egbewole made this call last Wednesday (May 20, 2026) while receiving the organisers of the Future-X in his office.
Prof. Egbewole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Olalere Adeyemi, stressed the need for industries to go beyond training and seminars by creating employment opportunities for students with innovative ideas and entrepreneurial potential.
He explained that universities must continue to align academic learning with industry demands so that graduates can contribute meaningfully to national development upon completion of their studies.
The Vice Chancellor, while commending the organisers for sustaining the initiative over the past three years, noted that the collaboration had already yielded positive results, especially with the involvement of some alumni of the University in the programme.
He, however, urged the organisers to widen opportunities for more students of the institution to participate and benefit directly from the initiative.
Prof. Egbewole also lauded the organisers for providing a platform where students could present ideas and innovations capable of addressing societal and industrial challenges. He expressed the readiness of the University to continue supporting partnerships that would promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and capacity building among students of the better by far University.
Also speaking, the Ag. Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Alex Morenikeji Akanmu, expressed appreciation to the organisers for sustaining the partnership initiative aimed at supporting students with innovative business ideas.
Dr Akanmu noted that the programme had continued to expose students of the University to opportunities capable of transforming their entrepreneurial aspirations into viable ventures.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Human Resource Personnel of Unilever Nigeria, Ms Oreoluwa Dina, explained that the initiative was designed to equip students with practical and entrepreneurial skills required to thrive in the modern business environment. She disclosed that the programme had evolved over the past three years from online training sessions and career development courses to an Entrepreneurship Challenge aimed at enabling participants to apply acquired knowledge to solving real-life problems through innovation and creativity.
Ms Dina further revealed that over 100 students participated in the online phase of the programme, while 17 teams advanced to the pitch session where innovative business ideas were presented before a panel for assessment. She added that the top five finalists would present their ideas before a larger audience.
