Nasarawa State University to produce world best – Prof. Ochinanwata

The newly appointed Director of Nasarawa State Univerity Keffi Enterprise Centre (NSUKEC), Prof. Chinedu Ochinawata, a Professor of Digital Economy and Innovation, has promised that the centre would develop students that would compete favourably in the global digital space.

Prof. Ochinanwata, who is the pioneer Director of the Centre, made this pledge on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony of the board of the Centre by the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed in Keffi.

In his speech, he said there were legitimate concerns about the quality of students being produced in the country especially in a fast-changing technological environment, assuring that the Centre would transform the students and restore the glory.

“Since this era of digital transformation, we have seen growing scepticism about the value of a University degree without mincing words, because the truth has to be told and something has to be done.

“As you know, legitimate concerns exist about the quality of graduates we produce, with doubts and cynicisms on the worthiness and value of a University degree. This raises a very pertinent question: What do we need to do to continue transforming students’ lives, to help ensure they can fulfil their personal and professional dreams in a rapidly changing environment due to technology?

“However, I assure you, this Centre will transform students, remove the doubt and restore the glory. We envisage the Centre will help students and graduates develop key skills to set up business ventures and startups while in the university and they will stand out from the crowd in a competitive graduate job market”.

“This is our moment to take a historic strength in empowering students and expand on it, to look at where we can make the greatest difference and invest in it.

“Together, at the Centre, let us find solutions that enable us to transform our excellence into action. And let us create a brighter, stronger and more vibrant Enterprise Centre, one dedicated to egalitarian excellence in service to NSUK, and one even better positioned and better prepared for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Suleiman Bala Mohammed, advised the new board to work harmoniously in achieving the aim of setting up the Centre, stating that they must focus on the core mandate of the Centre which is “Ideation, Incubation, Innovation and Commercialization”.