The Directorate of Entrepreneurial Studies at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, is set to create 120 sustainable micro-businesses by the end of the 2025 – 2026 academic session.
Currently, about 650 students are undergoing entrepreneurship training under the Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion -Sustainability (STEP-S project).
The STEP-S project is a collaborative project between Nigeria, Germany, South Afric and Kenya. The training develops in young adults the skill, knowledge and confidence to pursue entrepreneurial career.
The Director of the Directorate, Mr. Christopher Uwakwe, revealed this during a session on the STEP-S Training Programme for students of the university.
Mr. Uwakwe explained that the programme aims to equip students with the skills and mindset to find practical solutions to the challenges in their environments.
He added that this year’s program is designed in a way that outstanding business ideas will be mentored at the GO-Startup Incubation Foundation (GO-SIF) for acceleration and scaling up.
Describing the success of the STEP-S Programme as amazing, he noted that at least 15 percent of participants show strong potential to start their own businesses and pursue entrepreneurial careers.
He encouraged students to apply the knowledge gained to make found startups and make meaningful impacts in their communities.
Mr. Uwakwe also announced that participants would receive seed funds to launch their businesses, repay the main fund, and retain their profits after 12 weeks.
Some of the participants, Victor Nwokedi, Blessing Orabueze, Emmanuela Gabriel, and Philimon Okoli, said that the training had equipped them with essential knowledge on teamwork, the importance of feedback, and business sustainability.
They encouraged other students to develop a positive mindset towards job creation through entrepreneurship.
The participants also urged the university management to involve more professionals in the programme to share practical experiences in business creation and management
