By DAYO ADESULU
Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has challenged students and staff to transform Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges into opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation, wealth creation and sustainable development.
The call was made at the 2nd Annual Lecture Series of the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre (FEC) held at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium of the institution.
The programme, organised under the theme, “Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Model Series 2: Real Estate Development Business in Nigeria,” focused on how young Nigerians can use entrepreneurship and technical skills to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges.
The keynote lecture, titled “Sustainable Estate Development in Nigeria: Building Resilient Communities through Clean Water, Clean Energy and Innovation,” was delivered by Professor Timothy Gbenga Nubi, Professor of Estate Management and Valuation and an alumnus of YABATECH.
YABATECH Wants Graduates to Become Value Creators
Speaking at the event, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Abdul, said the annual lecture reflected the institution’s commitment to producing graduates who would go beyond seeking employment to becoming value creators, employers of labour and developers of practical solutions.
According to Abdul, Nigeria’s development requires human capital equipped with entrepreneurial, innovative and practical skills.
He said YABATECH, as a foremost institution of technical and vocational education, was strengthening the connection between education, industry and enterprise.
The Rector also acknowledged the role of Chief Tunde Fanimokun in establishing the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre in honour of his benefactor, the late Chief Iyanda Olayinka Folawiyo.
He explained that the Centre had become an important platform for exposing members of the YABATECH community to practical entrepreneurship.
Abdul noted that the late Chief Folawiyo built a business legacy spanning trading, oil and gas, energy, shipping, agriculture and real estate, adding that the Centre was drawing inspiration from that legacy to expand students’ understanding of enterprise.
While the Centre’s monthly Open Market Sales expose participants to the trading component of the Folawiyo business model, the annual lecture provides an opportunity to examine other sectors and dimensions of entrepreneurship.
Sustainable Real Estate Goes Beyond Buildings
The Rector described the focus on sustainable real estate development as timely.
He said modern real estate development should not be limited to constructing physical structures but should also address access to quality water, clean energy, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and resilient communities.
He also commended the Centre for including a Business Idea Presentation and Realtors’ Exhibition in the programme.
According to him, the initiatives give students and staff opportunities to develop practical solutions while interacting directly with professionals in the real estate industry.
‘Entrepreneurs Are Problem Solvers’
Earlier, the Director of the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre, Dr. Funmilayo Adeoye, explained that the Centre was established to expose members of the YABATECH community to practical entrepreneurship and various dimensions of the enterprise model associated with the Folawiyo legacy.
Adeoye said the Centre’s monthly Open Market Sales represented its engagement with the trading component, while the annual lecture series was designed to examine other areas of enterprise and business development.
She explained that the decision to focus on sustainable estate development was significant because of its connection with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, and SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities.
Adeoye also urged entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners to look beyond simply observing students’ business ideas.
She encouraged them to identify promising ventures that could receive funding, mentorship, partnerships and joint-venture opportunities.
“Entrepreneurship is not only about making a profit. We are not profit seekers as entrepreneurs; we are problem solvers,” she said.
She therefore urged students to focus on creating value, addressing real problems and building sustainable enterprises.
Fanimokun Recalls Lessons From Folawiyo
The founder of the DSE Foundation and chairman of the lecture, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, said his decision to establish the Centre was inspired by his personal experience working with the late Chief Iyanda Olayinka Folawiyo.
Fanimokun recalled that after voluntarily retiring from public service before the age of 40, he was invited by Folawiyo to participate in the management of his business empire.
At the time, he said, he had no direct entrepreneurial experience.
However, his seven years working with the businessman exposed him to lessons in entrepreneurship, wealth creation, business management and the responsibility of preparing younger generations for the future.
He said the experience strengthened his belief that entrepreneurship could provide a pathway to individual advancement and sustainable national development.
That conviction, he explained, contributed to his decision to establish the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre at YABATECH.
Fanimokun urged students to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the Centre.
He advised them to start small, acquire knowledge, remain flexible and develop clear vision, mission and strategy, which he described as essential ingredients for sustainable success.
Professor Nubi Identifies Real Estate Opportunities
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Timothy Gbenga Nubi challenged young Nigerians to change their perception of the country’s challenges.
Rather than seeing problems only as obstacles, he urged them to identify opportunities for enterprise in developing solutions.
Nubi explained that real estate extends beyond the ownership and development of physical structures.
According to him, the sector has implications for public health, physical safety, family wealth, employment, transportation, energy, water supply and the wider economy.
He noted that Nigeria’s housing challenge is not simply about the number of available houses.
It also involves quality, affordability, infrastructure and the overall living environment.
The professor identified several entrepreneurial opportunities along the real estate value chain.
These include land acquisition and planning, construction, plumbing, electrical works, painting, landscaping, interior decoration, furnishing, facility management, cleaning, as well as the production and supply of building materials.
He also identified inadequate water supply, high energy costs, waste management, poor roads, housing shortages and food supply as areas where young Nigerians could develop businesses while addressing pressing societal needs.
AI and Technical Skills Will Shape the Future of Work
Nubi also drew attention to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on employment.
He urged students to acquire practical and technical skills that can remain relevant as automation continues to reshape the world of work.
He cited plumbing, electrical installation, construction and other technical services as examples of skills-based areas capable of providing sustainable livelihoods.
On urban development, Nubi advocated deliberate urban regeneration.
He said communities previously regarded as slums could be transformed through effective planning, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship and collaboration between government and the private sector.
The professor also challenged students to think about the legacy they want to leave after graduating from YABATECH.
He asked them to consider the company, project, innovation or solution for which they would eventually be remembered.
YABATECH Rewards Student and Staff Business Ideas
The programme also featured a Hackathon/Business Idea Presentation involving students and staff.
Dr. Oloketuyi said the organising committee received 32 proposals, comprising 22 student entries and 10 staff entries.
The proposals were assessed based on innovation and creativity, feasibility and sustainability, market potential and scalability, business model, and clarity and quality of presentation.
Three staff proposals and three student presentations were adjudged the best.
In the student category, Komolafe Joseph emerged first and received a ₦250,000 prize, alongside an additional ₦250,000 donation from Chief Fanimokun.
Olaleye Femi placed second and received ₦200,000, matched with another ₦200,000 donation from Fanimokun.
Raymond Egbuson emerged third and received ₦150,000, also matched by the chairman.
The College also pledged to support the development of the winning business ideas through scholarships.
In the staff category, Mr Babatunde Adesoji Atiba, Mr Abdulwakeel Oluwatobi Atóyèbí and Dr Adebola Karamah Shogbuyi emerged first and received a ₦250,000 cash prize.
Mrs Aishatu Atóyèbí emerged second and received ₦200,000, while Dr Adebola Karamah Shogbuyi, Mr Babatunde Adesoji Atiba and Mr Abdulwakeel Oluwatobi Atóyèbí were also listed among the third-place recipients, with a ₦150,000 prize.
Students Encouraged to Explore Property Investment
In a goodwill message, ESV Toyin Kadiri, represented by ESV Dotun Bamigbola, commended YABATECH and the organisers for creating a platform that exposed students to practical opportunities in real estate.
He encouraged students to explore contemporary investment opportunities, including Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which can provide avenues for participating in property investment without necessarily purchasing physical property outright.
Why This Matters
The YABATECH entrepreneurship initiative highlights the growing importance of connecting technical education with practical business opportunities.
For students, the message is that entrepreneurship does not necessarily begin with large capital. It can begin with identifying a problem, acquiring the right skills and developing a workable solution.
The emphasis on water, energy, housing, waste management, construction and other essential services also demonstrates how social challenges can create opportunities for businesses that deliver measurable value.
At the same time, the inclusion of artificial intelligence and technical skills in the discussion points to the changing nature of employment. As automation transforms many occupations, practical skills and the ability to solve real-world problems could become increasingly important.
FAQs
What was the focus of the YABATECH annual lecture?
The lecture focused on real estate development business in Nigeria, with particular attention to sustainable development, clean water, clean energy and innovation.
Who delivered the keynote lecture?
Professor Timothy Gbenga Nubi, Professor of Estate Management and Valuation and a YABATECH alumnus, delivered the keynote lecture.
What opportunities did Professor Nubi identify?
He identified opportunities across land acquisition, construction, plumbing, electrical works, landscaping, interior decoration, facility management, cleaning and building-material supply, among others.
How many business proposals were submitted?
The organising committee received 32 proposals — 22 from students and 10 from staff.
What did YABATECH say about entrepreneurship?
The institution encouraged students to become value creators, employers of labour and problem solvers rather than focusing only on seeking conventional employment.
Conclusion
The 2nd Annual Lecture Series of the Folawiyo Entrepreneurship Centre has placed entrepreneurship, sustainable real estate and practical skills at the centre of discussions about Nigeria’s development.
Through lectures, exhibitions and business idea competitions, YABATECH is seeking to expose students and staff to practical ways of turning challenges into solutions.
The central message from the programme was clear: Nigeria’s problems can also present opportunities for people with the skills, creativity and determination to develop sustainable solutions.
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