-As first set of his Innovation Lab graduates in style
kunle Adelabu
Sen. Tokunbo Abiru (middle), Dr Saheed Ibikunle (2nd left), members of his team panelists and the three best graduands of Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) in group photograph.
Participants of the first set of the Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL), graduated on Friday, June 3, 2022, with the best three given about 3million naira grant by the #Doing Good Senator.
The three best participants are: John Olisa, Jessica Nwobodo, Esther Ogundare, respectively They were selected based on their pitch presentations and were awarded the sum of N1.5milion, N1milllion and N500, 000, respectively, by Sen. Abiru, the Chairman, Senate committee on Industries, and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, to support their businesses.
They trio emerged winners of the pitch presentations that was held at the event, based on the demonstration of their business ideas, valuation of their companies/ideas and evidences of their business proposals as determined by a panel of business professionals for seed funding and mentorship.
The three young entrepreneurs, who were part of the 41 graduands, became cynosure of all eyes during the graduating ceremony and Demo Day of Business 101 for Creatives and Artisans (Cohort 001).
The graduands were trained in relevant and modern business skills with technology support for several months at the SAIL programme .
Out of the 47 individuals that enrolled for the training, 41 successfully completed the 3-months intensive business training handled by the technical partner of SAIL, the Co-creation Hub (Cc-Hub).
Over 4,000 young men and women applied for the 5 pilot SAIL programmes across 16 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas in the Lagos East Senatorial District, while 150 were shortlisted for the entire maiden Cohort, 47 individuals were admitted into Business 101 for Creatives and Artisans class.
Other programmes included Tech Talent Development, Lagos East Teachers Fellowship, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Café for Secondary School Students and Start-up Accelerator for Businesses.
SAIL is an initiative of the Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation, and it is a dedicated innovation and tech lab that is providing relevant technology, business and digital skills to tech enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs across the Lagos East Senatorial District.
Sen. Abiru, a former bank chief Executive turned politician, speaking at the event, said that his Foundation established the Innovation Lab in response to growing unemployment in the country and also to position the younger generation for the enormous opportunities available in this current fourth industrial revolution”, he said.
‘’We are all aware that in recent years, Nigeria has faced unprecedented economic challenges ostensibly caused by recession, shrinking revenues and the Coronavirus. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the youth unemployment rate in Nigeria is at 42. 50 in the first quarter of 2022.
‘’Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, having failed to maximize the opportunities of the agricultural and industrial ages. Now, we are in the digital revolution age, we, therefore, cannot, as a nation, afford to miss out on the enormous opportunities available in this innovation and digital age.
‘’This is the compelling rationale behind the establishment of The Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL). Look around you today, you will discover that the COVID-19 pandemic has made remote working fashionable. Also, the rise in the deployment of robotics and artificial intelligence all point to the fact that we either brace up for technology or we lose out again!
‘’So, I knew, when I became Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the most enduring empowerment I can give to young people and entrepreneurs in my constituency is to leverage on my global exposure and experience to make them globally competitive by equipping them with premium digital, innovative and technological skills which are in high demands globally. This was in keeping with the social contract that I had with the people of the Lagos East Senatorial district when seeking their votes’’.
Ojoma Ochai, Managing Partner of the Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB, challenged the graduating participants to harness the huge opportunities in the creative sector.
“I want to begin this speech by saying thank you to Senator Abiru for his investment in developing opportunities for talent to thrive. Let me add that the creative sector contributes the equivalent of half of Nigeria’s GDP which represents about 3% of global GDP and employs millions around the world and in Nigeria as well”, she said.
John Olisa, the best graduating entrepreneur whose company, UniKorn which specializes in production of casual wears and footwear, won the first prize of the pitch presentations, said that he put in hardwork to emerge the winner.
“I feel proud of myself. I actual worked hard for this. I am so proud of myself”, he said.
“I have already started recommending the programme to lot of people and will keep recommending it because it’s very impactful”.
The second best graduand, Esther Ogundare who is into fashion items and clothing, said that the progarmme has opened her mind and broaden her horizon.
“The programme has seriously opened my mind. It has served as source of inspiration and I have also learnt how to collaborate with others and see the possibility of effective impact and change”, she said.
Abiodun lsikalu, one of the participants, described the programme as impressive.
“The programme is very impactful and I recommend it to everyone”.
Cross section of political leaders at the presentation.
Participants in group photograph.
