The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC) Ondo Axis, has empowered at least 200 students from 10 tertiary institutions in Ondo State with business start-up equipment. The distribution took place during the second edition of the “Students to CEO” Entrepreneurship Summit.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Ondo State Students’ Potential for Economic Growth,” was held at Deji Hall, Ojaja Park, Akure. It aims to encourage students to move beyond academic qualifications and build sustainable businesses while still in school.
The programme was sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Beneficiaries received industrial sewing machines, deep freezers, power generators, and other trade tools selected according to their skills in fashion design, tailoring, and technology.
Adekanye Adeboye, Chairman of NANS JCC Ondo Axis, said the initiative challenges the widespread belief that only academic certificates guarantee success. He explained that the goal is to help students identify and develop their talents and skills outside the classroom.
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“Student leaders should motivate their peers to take advantage of available opportunities and grow into better individuals rather than simply conforming to societal expectations,” Adekanye stated. He noted that organisers had initially planned to reach 400 students but successfully empowered 200 participants—20 from each of the 10 participating institutions. He urged the recipients to manage the equipment with diligence, integrity, and responsibility.
Babatunde Akinteye, President of NANS, described the programme as part of a broader effort to promote entrepreneurship among Nigerian students. He said many previous beneficiaries have reported positive life changes, with some becoming business owners in their fields.
Akinteye emphasised that the aim is to discourage students from waiting until after graduation to chase white-collar jobs. “We want them to start building enterprises while still in school,” he said. He expressed hope that some of the new beneficiaries would grow their businesses and increase their profits within a year.
Citing data that about 71 percent of Nigeria’s population is youth and 40–45 percent of that group are students, Akinteye called on the government to prioritise direct empowerment of students through entrepreneurship programmes. He argued that this approach would deliver greater impact than waiting until young people graduate.
Lemperioritle, Chair of the Planning Committee, warned that the distributed equipment is strictly not for sale. A monitoring committee has been set up to ensure compliance. He expressed optimism that the next edition of the summit would be even more successful.
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