The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has urged undergraduates to turn their skills and innovative ideas into practical solutions that can create wealth, address societal challenges, and reduce unemployment. Ogundipe, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), made this call at the unveiling of Etude, an educational application developed by a UNILAG undergraduate, Samuel Johnson.
Ogundipe cited students of UNILAG who earn more than their professors through their business ventures, saying entrepreneurship had become a viable pathway to wealth creation. He urged students to believe in their ideas, develop their skills, and pursue innovative ventures, stressing that financial rewards would follow the creation of valuable solutions. According to Ogundipe, students should focus on developing their potential and earning recognition through their work, rather than making money their primary motivation.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described Johnson as a beneficiary of the Federal Government’s N50 million Student Venture Capital Grant, designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students. Alausa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the government had established a pipeline for identifying and supporting student innovators capable of developing solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described Etude’s launch as more than the unveiling of an educational application, saying it presented an opportunity to reimagine learning in a rapidly changing world. Ogunsola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Prof. Foluso Lesi, said advances in technology and artificial intelligence were transforming industries, workplaces, and access to information.
Ogunsola said universities must rethink how they prepare students for the future, adding that technology should expand the possibilities of classroom learning rather than replace it. She emphasized that integrating technology into education would promote more accessible, engaging, and responsive learning experiences while complementing lecturers’ expertise, strengthening industry engagement, and giving students greater ownership of their learning.
The Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, said Johnson began developing Etude while in 200 level. He described the application as a virtual learning platform designed to improve students’ academic performance through tutorial videos and computer-based examinations. Johnson said Etude was developed to provide structured learning support for students and complement conventional classroom teaching.
Johnson’s Etude application is one of the innovative solutions that can address societal challenges and reduce unemployment, as emphasized by Ogundipe. The NUC chair’s call to action is a reminder that students have a crucial role to play in developing practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges. With the support of the Federal Government’s Student Venture Capital Grant, Johnson and other student innovators can translate their ideas into viable ventures that contribute to national development.
Key points
- NUC chair Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe urges students to turn skills into practical solutions.
- Etude, an educational application, was developed by UNILAG undergraduate Samuel Johnson.
- The Federal Government’s N50 million Student Venture Capital Grant promotes innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
