The University of Ilorin has celebrated the graduation of 9,924 student entrepreneurs under its Innovative Skills Pioneering Entrepreneurship Scheme (U-Inspire). The programme was designed to equip students with modern entrepreneurial and digital skills to prepare them for a competitive global economy.
Speaking during the maiden graduation ceremony held in Ilorin, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee of U-Inspire, Professor Rasheed Jimoh, explained that the initiative was created to complement traditional academic learning with practical, industry-relevant skills.
“The management of Unilorin, under the leadership of Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), has the vision to empower every graduate of the institution with a degree through additional 21st-century skills,” he said.
Professor Jimoh added that the programme was carefully developed to build competencies that align with emerging global trends in digital innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. According to him, “Out of the 9,924 graduands, 45 ambassadors were picked, five from each of the nine partners of the U-Inspire.”
He further explained that the maiden edition of the scheme began with three core skill sets — Leadership and Personal Development, Graphic Design, and Web Development. These, he said, were chosen to meet current market demands and enhance employability through digital transformation and entrepreneurship development.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Adegboyega Fawole, described entrepreneurship as the ability to identify opportunities and transform them into profitable ventures.
“An entrepreneur is somebody who can look into the world and see opportunities,” Egbewole noted. “The purpose of entrepreneurship is to enjoy yourself, solve the world’s problems, and make a profit.”
In his keynote address, Arc. Zakirudeen Oladotun of ZAKMAD, Ilorin, commended the University of Ilorin for moving beyond theoretical education into practical and industrial innovation. He stated that the future of higher education must be entrepreneurial, experimental, and ecosystem-driven.
“At the heart of the U-Inspire initiative is a powerful tool — that skills today come with trust, competency beats credentials, and attitude shapes altitude,” Oladotun said. He added that skills can be built through mentorship, product development, problem-solving, design thinking, and entrepreneurship boot camps.
The event concluded with awards to top-performing student teams. Team MCGeorge Consulting Limited emerged in first place, receiving a cash award of ₦550,000, while Team HR Square Concept came second with ₦350,000, and Team Groom 2Lead Integrated Services took third place with ₦250,000.