CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI

1. INTRODUCTION

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Development was created in August 2010 in response to the directive and the consequent action plan (July 2010) of the Federal Government of Nigeria that each University in Nigeria should create a centre for entrepreneurship development. The strategic objectives of this national policy are as follows:

• Improving the capacity of Nigerian youths to develop positive independent and innovative thought processes and overall entrepreneurial mindset.
• The training of youths in vocational skills as a way of stimulating future graduates towards venture creation.

• The eventual gains of boosting employment opportunities and increasing the levels of national peace and harmony.

The Centre has five operational Units, namely: (a) Entrepreneurship Education Unit.  (b)Students Entrepreneurship Activities Unit (c)Vocational Skills Acquisition Unit (d) Entrepreneurship Extension Services and Venture Development Unit  (e) Entrepreneurship Research (f) Linkages and Staff Development Unit.

 OPERATIONS OF THE CENTRE

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, is effectively in place and ranks as one of the leading Centres of Entrepreneurship Development among Nigerian Universities. The centre’s structure and operations transcend the mundane practice of entrepreneurship education. It is indeed an Entrepreneurship development programme (EDP) that recognizes that mindset re-engineering is the central issue in entrepreneurship development and it is designed to undertake the following activities:

(i)        Mindset Re-engineering

This activity is directed at changing the mindset of the Nigerian youth to be positive, independent, productive and entrepreneurial. The CED employs different sets of instruments to achieve this. These are the engagement of business role models and motivational speakers, behaviour modification experts and management experts, entrepreneurship competition, seminars workshops, etc.

(ii)       Vocational Skills Training (VST)

We offer ENT 312 Entrepreneurship Practice for all 300 level students of the University as a GST course.

The position of National Universities Commission (NUC) on the infrastructure for vocational Skills Training (VST) is that every CED should establish workshops manned by five staff for each workshop for training students. In this regards, the CED has for the past ten years utilized the workshops, laboratories and farms in UAM colleges and Departments for Vocational Skills Training of students. The Comprehensive list of Vocational Skills of the University are in the following areas:

Nursery Management

Budding/grafting

Floriculture

Arable crop production

Seed production

Mushroom production

Broiler production

Rabbit production

Management consultancy

Welding and Fabrication

Air-conditioning and Refrigeration

Culvert Rings production

Radio/TV/Handset Repairs

Wiring and Installation

Tractor Repairs

Block/Brick molding

Production of Yoghurt

Bread baking

Juice Production

Vegetable Oil extraction

Interior Decoration

Tailoring and Design

Tie/ Dyeing

Day Care Management

Yam powder production

Bee keeping/ Honey Production

Fish/fingerling production

Grass-cutter production

Snailry

Ornamental fish production

Aquaria construction

Soap making

Bleach

Air freshener

Insecticides

Starch

Body cream/lotion/hair cream

Web-site Design

Computer repairs

Networking

Microsoft Office

(iii)     Extension Entrepreneurship Training: The CED is also responsible for the training (consultancy) of present and prospective entrepreneurs in Benue State and beyond.

3. EXISTING COLLABORATIONS

Existing Collaborations which are committed to developing skills and entrepreneurship toward building a strong and sustainable network are as follows:  

(i)        Collaboration with SMEDAN on training of unemployed youths in Benue State- ongoing.

• Collaboration with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for funding of Students projects and graduates which is on-going.
• Collaboration with EUNICE Spring of Life foundation for Entrepreneurship training.
• Collaboration with Federal Ministry of Finance on “YOU WIN” programme for mind-set re-engineering using business role models and book distribution.
• Collaboration with Emerging Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) to build a robust African economy that is driven by thriving locally owned Agribusiness for Inspiring a generational Shift in the African Agricultural Value Chain.
• Collaboration with Ameh-Tech Charity Foundation in the areas of Providing Skill Acquisition on Soap/body lotion making, Fresh Fruits Drinks Packaging vitality.
• Collaboration with Agency Banking Network/Sterling Bank Nig. Plc for the establishment of banking agency on University Campus.
• Proposal for collaboration with McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada for the establishment of International Post-graduate degree in Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEEI) for (candidates with Technical Background) and Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) (for candidates with Non-Technical background). This is ongoing.

 

Prof. F.A.O. Ayatse

Director