UNILAG empowers students with N.5m

The Alumni Association of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has empowered five of its final year students with the sum of N500,000, at N100,000 each to start up their businesses. 

The empowerment which was organised by the alumni association in partnership with the student affairs division was sponsored by Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB). 

The initiative was created to help develop entrepreneur’s spirit in students during their stay in the campus. 

According to the Assistant National Secretary of the organisation, Dr. Aaron Akinloye, unemployment has prompted the alumni association to organise the business proposals’ award. 

“We found out that students graduate every year and at the end of the day, there  is no employment for them. As a result, the association decided to ensure that students who are qualified from the interview conducted are given cash award to start up whatever plan they have and we have a committee that will do a follow up for the money given to them,”  he said.

Among the beneficiaries of the awards are; Eric Okorugbo, a final year student of the Department of zoology who is aiming at puff business and Marim Olatunji of Mass communication Department looking towards fashion designing. 

Speaking at the business award event, the National President of the association, Dr. Sonny Kuku, said UNILAG Alumni  is trying to demonstrate that life after university is not all about going to take white collar job. 

He implored government at various levels to set up more entrepreneurs’ school as well as small scale business funds to encourage the populace.