– CSAED is a strategic FEDPA initiative for practical skill acquisition and entrepreneurship education for students, Staff and host communities – Rector, Dr. AbdulHameed
(Rector, Fed. Poly, Ayede with His Royal Majesty, the Sound of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye during a recent royal visit to FEDPA)
– Our students trained at our CSAED have been registered with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) which makes them qualified for funding and small business management training,” – Rector
(Complex Housing the Centre for Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development at FEDPA)
By Biola Lawal
Ayede (Oyo State) FLOWERBUDNEWS: The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede has established
a Centre for Skill Acquisitions and Entrepreneurship Development (CSAED) to boost economic empowerment among its students, staff and youths in the host communities.
FLOWERBUDNEWS learnt that the Centre, which has since commenced operations,
was established as a strategic initiative by the management of Federal Polytechnic Ayede and approved by the Academic Board of the Polytechnic.
(Acting Director, FEDPA Centre for Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Oluwaseun Christopher OWOJORI)
Speaking in an interview with FLOWERBUDNEWS on the impact and benefits of the centre, CSAED, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed said that the Centre was established to address the growing need for practical skill acquisition and entrepreneurship education among students, staff and the host communities.
He noted that this was also in line with the current educational vision of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu which is encouraging skill acquisition and entrepreneurship as against ordinary paper qualifications.
”The vision was to complement academic knowledge with hands-on experience, fostering self-reliance, job and wealth creation,” Dr. AbdulHameed stated.
The Centre was founded with the motivation to equip targeted stakeholders with requisite entrepreneurship skills and be able to tackle unemployment and poverty among graduates by equipping, not only students, but staff with relevant vocational skills and entrepreneurial mindset, Dr. AbdulHameed said.
‘:The aim is to produce graduates who are not only employable but also capable of creating opportunities for themselves and others. This aligns with national objectives to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth through innovation and enterprise,” the Rector stated.
He disclosed that the Centre was already benefiting the students by providing them with practical training in various trades and business development.
The Rector said that CSAED was ” helping the students gain confidence and competence in their chosen fields. Students are better positioned to become self-employed or start small businesses upon graduation.’:
The students are already acquiring skills Events Planning and Interior Decoration, Snacks and Cake Productions, Barbing and Hairdressing, Shoes Leatherwork, and Fruit Productions, Dr. AbdulHameed told FLOWERBUDNEWS.
He added that the students had undergone several entrepreneurship development physical and virtual meetings.
”Our student has been registered with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) which makes them qualified for funding and small business management training,” the Rector disclosed.
‘:We are in the process of getting them registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC,” he said.
Dr. AbdulHameed said that CSAED has not left the staff out of the benefits obtainable from the Centre as many of them have now been orientated on entrepreneurship, especially agricultural entrepreneurship.
‘:The feedback the beneficiaries is positive and progressive as many has many now are now engaged not only in subsistence agriculture, but also in small scale agriculture cultivation and production which is acceptable by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Civil Servants,” the Rector disclosed.
(Acting Director, FEDPA Centre for Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Oluwaseun Christopher OWOJORI)
He said that the Centre has been beneficial to the host communities by producing a pool of skilled individuals who can contribute meaningfully to the economy among the host community.
‘:We had a Entrepreneurship Development Workshop in honor of the Royal father and the participants was selected among the indigenes of Iresa-Apa, the host community,”. Dr. AbdulHameed said.
(Barbing Skills’ acquisition)
He said the operation of CSAED was helping to reduce dependency and social vices by engaging youths in the communities productively.
The Rector said that the establishment of the Centre has enhanced the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede’s academic reputation and relevance.
‘:It has become a hub for innovation, skill development, and community engagement, fostering partnerships with industries and stakeholders,” he stated, adding;
‘:Since its inception, CSAED has recorded significant achievements as hundreds of students have participated in various skill acquisition programs and many have launched small businesses’:
Also commenting on the impacts and benefits of CSAED, the Acting Director of the Centre, Mr. Oluwaseun Christopher OWOJORI disclosed that Centre had hosted works training sessions, and exhibitions that have increased awareness and participation in entrepreneurial activities.
”It is playing a vital role in promoting the Polytechnic’s mission of producing competent and self-sufficient graduates,’: Owojori said, adding; The Centre for Skill Acquisitions and Entrepreneurship Development has become an essential pillar in the academic and social structure of Federal Polytechnic Ayede.
Its contributions to student development, community advancement, and national growth are commendable and deserving of sustained support and expansion, the Acting Director said. FLOWERBUDNEWS
