The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has appealed to the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF) to include startup grants for graduates who need capital to turn innovative ideas into viable enterprises. He made the appeal while stressing that skills training alone is not enough without support after graduation.
Prof. Egbewole, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, spoke last Wednesday, January 14, 2026, when he received a team from the ITF alongside officials of the University of Ilorin Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). The visit was ahead of the 2026 SIWES Annual Pre-Placement Orientation Programme scheduled by the University.
According to him, entrepreneurship education and practical skills acquisition are important, but they must be matched with access to finance to ensure sustainability. He said many students leave school with skills and workable ideas but are unable to implement them due to lack of funds. “There is often a gap after graduation when students who have acquired skills cannot move forward because there is no startup capital,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor warned that without funding support, several promising ideas developed by graduates could be abandoned, leading to wasted talent and effort. He urged the ITF to initiate programmes that would provide financial backing or startup grants for graduates, describing such intervention as key to converting skills acquisition into real economic value and job creation.
Earlier, the Director of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), University of Ilorin, Prof. Roland Monday Kayode, appreciated the University management for its continued support of the scheme. He specifically thanked the management for approving a proposal submitted by the SIWES Centre, which was recently endorsed by the Senate of the University.
Prof. Kayode explained that the approved proposal introduced a revised assessment and grading system for students participating in SIWES. He said the new system would significantly improve how students are evaluated by integrating inputs from all stakeholders involved in the programme.
He noted that assessments would now include reports from industry-based supervisors, institution-based supervisors within the University, and lecturers directly in charge of SIWES students. According to him, “The inputs from these stakeholders will be collated and harmonised to arrive at a final score for each student,” ensuring fairness and transparency in grading.
Meanwhile, the Head of Training of the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF), Mr. Onipede Ibrahim, who led the ITF delegation, commended the University of Ilorin for its strong performance in implementing SIWES. He described the SIWES Pre-Placement Orientation Programme as a routine but critical exercise designed to prepare students and stakeholders for effective participation.
Mr. Ibrahim said available records show that the University of Ilorin remains the best-performing institution in the execution of SIWES in Kwara State. He described the achievement as commendable and said the consistency and professionalism of the University SIWES Unit set a standard worthy of emulation.
He also praised the SIWES Unit for its accessibility and responsiveness, noting that it is always available to provide guidance to students and stakeholders. Mr. Ibrahim further disclosed that the ITF has several intervention programmes focused on skills development and capacity building, and encouraged the University to explore these opportunities. Meanwhile, plans are ongoing for the federal government to launch ITF SUPA Marketplace to link artisans with jobs.
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