It was a refreshing moment for both the management and students of the Pan African University of Heart Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, on Wednesday, as the students took time out of lecture theatres to learn meat pie making, buff loaf (puff puff), smoothie and juice, and bead production.
The PAULESI students, drawn from 45 African countries, converged on the carpark of the N250million permanent site of PAULESI administrative building built by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the TETFUND released to the University of Ibadan.
The Director of PAULESI, UI, Prof. Esther Akinlabi, in an interview with Oyo Reporters at the sidelines of the training, said that the programme was targeted at equipping the students with entrepreneurial and soft skills.
Describing the trainees’ response as impressive, she said, “Today’s programme is on entrepreneurship activities workshop. The essence of this is in line with our mandate at Pan African University to ensure that we enhance students that are going through the programmes with some entrepreneurship skills.
‘I asked myself a question; what is an entrepreneurship activity? I went on Google and got some definitions. My understanding is that it is an activity that is legal which someone can get involved in for the benefit of profit making. I read that entrepreneurship can be in two parts; one is being an entrepreneur in your field of study. For example, as a mechanical engineer, I can open a mechanic workshop or a gas plant.
“On the other hand, you can be an entrepreneur in a field that is remote from what you studied. I can use myself as an example: though I studied mechanical engineering, on the other side, I make cakes. I used to bake lots of birthday and wedding cakes.
“The activities today, teaching the students how to make buff loaf, beads – men and women alike use beads in Africa – is an ancient skill which has revolutionalized to modern ways. I love beads and pearls a lot. The students said they would like to learn it. When we were contacted from the Directorate that we were going to receive funding for entrepreneurship, we asked the students what were the activities that they would like to see. Beads making and how to make smoothie and juice were picked.
“The entrepreneurship activities that we planned to do are in two folds. One is hands-on and the second part is equipping the students with soft skills like writing grant proposals, which I would personally be teaching them. To the glory of God, I have been privileged to win 32 grants in excess of over $1million USD. I had trained people on how to write research grants. I had done seminars and workshops both in Nigeria and South Africa on how to write research grant proposals. The event would be virtual.
“On the soft skills, we highlighted the five aspects that we are going to be teaching the students on soft skills to enhance their employability and their entrepreneurship skills. Two, we are going to invite someone to talk to students on waste to wealth using plastics – circular economy on how wastes from plastics can be reusable or recyclable. We would also be teaching them on digital marketing; how they can market themselves on social media. Also, they would be trained on public speaking. Then how to make PowerPoint presentation and on project management.”
Sorie Tamara, a Master of Science student in Medicinal Plant Research and Drug Development from Kenya, while reacting to the training, said, “Apart from being a drug developer, I can do this as a business. Apart from pursuing drug development, this can be a side hustle for me.
“The one that catches my interest the most is juice extraction because I am doing drug development from plants. I can see the medicinal values of those fruits. Apart from those fruits being used as juice, they can also be used as medication. Then, the juice can be used as sweetener for the drugs that I develop from herbs.”
Kate Frema Nyarko, a Medicinal Plant Research and Drug Development student from Ghana, said that “The entrepreneurship programme would help us to get along and be less dependent on government. I am very happy and amazed because the world is far advanced and it is not only book and academia but I believe that having a programme like entrepreneurship is nice because when there is no job, you can make pies and beads and be selling. They are very profitable. This is a good option that PAULESI has put in place.
“I am very happy because after here, I don’t need to wait for government to find job. I like all the trainings; I am a very diverse person.”
Safiatou LA mine Dial lo, a Masters student in Vaccines Production and Quality Control, from Konakry, Guinea, said it was an opportunity for the students to take a break from class work.
LA mine Dial lo said that “Before we had this, I was tired of learning every time. It makes me happy, I am learning something new. Learning these kinds of food, when I go back, I will make it for my husband and children. I like the making of the puff puff and the juice because all the ingredients are natural. I would like to develop a business from this.”
A Master of Science in Environmental Management student from Sierra Leone, said, “Environment and food are quite related. When you look at Environmental Management holistically, it has to do with being innovative by making do with what you have and how you can monetize it. Being taught how to make beads helps in being innovative, it helps in terms of entrepreneurship and reduction of wastes. This skill is in line with environmental management.
“I like the bead that I am wearing so much because culturally, it represents Africa and Nigeria in particular. And, being in Nigeria, I have to identify myself with the culture.”
The director of PAULESI said that after the training, the students would be required to fill the feedback form.
“I can feel the vibes of the interest that the students show. We are holding the event at the carpark of the N250million PAULESI administrative block building sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the TETFUND released to the University of Ibadan, our host, to assist to build this building for PAULESI.
The building project started on the 20th of August, 2020. The students, that arrived in February from 45 countries would be leaving Nigeria after finishing their residency period on December 10.”
