Daud Olatunji
The Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has unveiled plans to fully digitise its campus and empower students with startup funding, as part of efforts to reposition the institution as a hub for innovation and job creation.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, disclosed this on Friday during the maiden OOU Future Tech Conference themed “The Next Frontier: Building Africa’s Digital Future,” which attracted over 2,000 participants at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Hall.
He said the university had commenced the installation of fibre-optic infrastructure across the campus to ensure fast and reliable internet connectivity, adding that the project would be completed by the end of April.
According to him, the initiative is in line with the institution’s digitalisation agenda aimed at equipping students with relevant technological skills.
“We are moving away from outdated systems to a more reliable fibre-optic network that will connect every building on campus. This will significantly improve learning, research and innovation,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that the university had set aside funds to support student-led startups, noting that viable ideas would receive institutional backing and partnerships to become sustainable businesses.
“We are not just training students to look for jobs that do not exist. We are preparing them to become employers of labour by supporting their ideas and innovations,” he added.
He explained that the university’s development strategy is anchored on producing graduates who are academically sound, employable and entrepreneurial, stressing that skills acquisition and critical thinking are now central to higher education.
The conference, which was largely driven by students, featured panel discussions, mentorship sessions and exhibitions focused on digital skills, innovation and problem-solving.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Pricepally, Luther Lawoyin, urged undergraduates to take advantage of opportunities in technology and avoid cybercrime.
“There is a lot of opportunity in tech. Students should use their time in school to build, experiment and prepare for the future,” he said.
Also speaking, the Africa CEO and Co-founder of Aulkland, Paul Jatao, said Nigeria’s large youth population places it at the centre of the global digital economy.
He stressed the need for enabling structures that would help young people transform ideas into practical solutions.
“With the right support systems, Nigerian youths can solve local problems and compete globally,” he said.
The event also featured a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest display of colouring pages in collaboration with record holder, Adetunwase Adenle.
Stakeholders at the conference expressed optimism that the university’s combined investment in digital infrastructure and startup support would produce a new generation of innovators capable of tackling unemployment and driving economic growth.
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