President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled the N1 billion International Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship donated to University of Maiduguri by Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.
Unavailing the edifice situated in the heart of the varsity, on Saturday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented Tinubu, described the donation as “service to humanity”.
The centre has 150 auditorium, artisans and handcraft, Fabrication machine Laboratory, training zone, coding and app development Laboratory, robotice, drones and mechatronics, incubation spaces, among others.
In his remark, vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Aliyu Shugaba, expressed optimism that centre would foster a thriving innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages creativity, collaboration and experimentation.
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“However, despite the three months training provided in entrepreneurship and over 70,000 students exposed to it, the objective of creating enterprises by the students at graduation has not been realized.
“The new Centre is expected to remedy the situation. It is expected to foster a thriving innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages creativity, collaboration and experimentation.
“It will provide a platform for individuals and other stakeholders launch and grow new ventures, creating a social and economic impact in the process. In future products of the Centre will be capable of creating enterprises for self-employment.
“On behalf of the University I express our profound gratitude to say thank to Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu for his generosity and support” he said.
Shettima, Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai, the owner of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and the former registrar of the University, Dahiru Bobbo, were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees.
