By Bashir Dawodu
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has urged students, particularly those of the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts (CCSCA) to embrace creativity and harness their hidden potential as a means of building personal capital and contributing meaningfully to the growth of the society.
Prof. Egbewole made this charge last Thursday (October 9, 2025) during the opening ceremony of a two-day Creative and Cultural Festival organised by the CCSCA in collaboration with MySweetStories as part of the University Tour 2025 initiative. The event took place at the University Auditorium.
The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, encouraged students to focus on the arts, noting that while university life marks the beginning of their journey, their creative potentials will propel them far beyond its walls.
He commended the CCSCA for organising what he described as an inspiring event that showcases students’ talents and brings the vibrancy of the arts itenerary.
Prof. Egbewole also appreciated MySweetStories for selecting the University as the first stop among ten Nigerian universities on its tour.
Delivering her keynote address, Ms Perpetual Love Ndume, Founder and Growth Lead of MySweetStories Initiative, said the project aims to “catch the youth young” and empower them to be useful to themselves and to the nation.
“We have to be creative to solve our own problems. Knowledge must be useful,” she emphasised, urging students to “own their stories” and pursue their dreams with determination.
Also speaking, Ms Chisomaga Njemanze, Co-founder and Story Development Lead at Afritoon, highlighted the organisation’s mission to transform authentic African stories, saying it is into global experiences through animation, comics, audio dramas, and print media while ensuring that African writers gain visibility and fair compensation.
“Never downgrade yourselves,” she advised, telling the students to “believe that the sky is your starting point.”
In his remarks, the Director of the CCSCA, Prof. Raymond Olutoyin Ogunade, described the initiative as part of the Centre’s commitment to nurturing disciplined, creative, and future-ready youth.
“Today, we are not merely launching a programme; we are inaugurating a vision, one that seeks to position Nigeria as the cultural and creative hub of Africa and a force in the global knowledge economy,” Prof. Ogunade stated.
He added that Nigeria’s creative sector holds vast potential to become a significant source of income for individuals, groups, and the nation as a whole.
In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Centre, Mr Olumayowa Oyedepo, congratulated the students for seizing the opportunity to showcase their talents and expressed appreciation to the guests for honouring the invitation.
The festival, which brought together Principal Officers, Deans, Heads of Departments, and students, was designed to empower young storytellers, writers, and cultural innovators across Nigeria, Africa, and beyond.
