By Feyisetan Hamzat|Benny News Hub
IBADAN — A member of the Governing Council of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Mrs. Sumbo Obaseki, and the Director of the University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Dr. Babatunde Agbi, have visited the Kola Daisi Entrepreneurship Centre at Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, in a move aimed at exploring stronger collaboration and ways of expanding the impact of its free vocational skills acquisition programme.
The visit provided an opportunity for the university representatives to examine the operations of the Centre, interact with instructors and gain firsthand knowledge of the practical training being offered to young people at no cost.
The Kola Daisi Entrepreneurship Centre is an initiative of the Ajewole-led administration, as the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), established to equip young people with practical vocational skills that can provide pathways to self-employment and economic independence.
The Centre currently provides free training in areas including Tie and Dye, Batik making, Hairdressing, Leather Works, Fashion Designing, Catering and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
During the visit, Mrs. Obaseki inspected the equipment and tools available at the Centre and expressed interest in the level of facilities supporting the various vocational programmes.
One of the engaging sessions was with Mr. Adeniji Ismaeel Mustapha, the instructor in charge of Tie and Dye and Batik.
Mrs. Obaseki sought details about the production process, including how long it takes to produce the Batik materials, the quantity the Centre is able to produce within a week and the prevailing cost of production. Mr. Adeniji responded to her enquiries, providing explanations on the production activities and capacity of the department.
At the Catering Department, she also interacted with Mrs. Omowumi Azeez and sought information about the different menus prepared by the trainees. She further asked whether the department handles outdoor catering services, with the questions receiving affirmative responses.
The Hairdressing Department, represented by Ms. Akinfenwa Oyindamola, was also part of the interaction as the visitors continued their assessment of the Centre's various training areas.
The exchanges made the visit an interesting and practical session, with the university representatives engaging directly with instructors about what they teach, what they produce and how the skills acquired by trainees could translate into real economic opportunities.
Beyond assessing the existing operations, the visit opened conversations around how the free skills acquisition initiative could reach more young people, particularly those in less-served communities across Ibadan.
There were also considerations around the possible need for accommodation facilities, including hostels, to enable young people who live far from the Centre to participate fully in the vocational programmes.
Such support, if considered and facilitated, could potentially widen access to the programme and make vocational training available to a greater number of young people who might otherwise be unable to attend because of distance and transportation challenges.
The engagement therefore goes beyond institutional collaboration, as it presents an opportunity to examine how existing resources, expertise and facilities can be leveraged to make practical vocational education accessible to more young people.
Those present during the visit included Dr. Kola Lawal, Chairman of the committee overseeing the Centre; Mr. Muieez Quadri; Alhaja Olabisi Folarin; Hon. Adenike Yusuf; Mrs. Ogundipe; Chief Mrs. Victoria Omotosho-Ibikunle; and Ms. Feyisetan Hamzat, Media and Publicity Officer of the Centre.
The visit is expected to pave the way for further discussions between the Kola Daisi Entrepreneurship Centre and KolaDaisi University on areas of collaboration, technical support, entrepreneurship development, mentorship and the expansion of opportunities for young people.
At a time when vocational skills are increasingly important to youth empowerment and self-reliance, the engagement underscores the need for more institutions and stakeholders to support initiatives that give young people practical skills alongside opportunities to apply them.
