By Ani Ruth

Enugu – Students and staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) have been advised not to rely solelyon their certificate as their means of livelihood.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie gave the advice on Wednesday during a one-day workshop organised for staff and students of the university in collaboration with Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUND).

The workshop which was aimed at giving students and academics hands-on knowledge for developing viable business ideas through proper feasibility studies and crafting realistic startup plans, was part of a broader push to strengthen entrepreneurship in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The two separate workshops were held simultaneously at the new Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) of the university, Ebe Ano City, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The workshop brought together selected students and academics for practical sessions on two closely related themes: “Feasibility Studies and Business Start-up Plans” and “Business Analysis for Business Start-ups.”

The Vice Chancellor told the participants that “certificate alone, in the Nigerian and global setting, can lead you to nowhere. What employers really want is what a graduate can actually offer. And I also challenge my staff to diversify. The world today is not such that you would rely on one certificate for sustenance, diversify, acquire new careers and improve yourself,” he said.  

Professor Vincent Onodugo of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), kicked off the presentations looking at the theme “Business Analysis Fundamentals: Defining Needs and Managing Stakeholder Expectations.” He pointed out that many Nigerian business owners still struggle with accountability, which is one of the biggest expectations stakeholders have.

A former Director and pioneer Branch Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Asaba, Dame Elizabeth Agu (mni), focused on feasibility studies. Drawing from her banking experience, she explained their real meaning, purpose, and different types, while highlighting common causes of start-up failures. She drove home the point that a proper feasibility study is not just important but is a critical risk management tool for any business.

On his part, the Director of ESUT Consult, Professor Okechukwu Oji, took participants through “Start-up Business Plan: Development, Technical, Operational and Financial Evaluation.” He broke down the concepts of start-up, planning, development, and technical aspects before diving deeper into the topic.

The last speaker, Professor Chris Orga, an analytical business and entrepreneurship expert, and Deputy Director, EDC ESUT, took the conversation from different perspective, with fresh insights on mapping and modelling in business analysis, identifying inefficiencies, and spotting improvement opportunities using strategic tools. He also shared basic data analysis techniques and recommended Excel as more practical and sufficient for most start-up needs than the often-used SPSS.

Earlier in his speech, the Director of Entrepreneurial Centre ESUT, Professor Jude Udenta welcome all participants and facilitators to the workshop and stressed that the essence of the training was to equip ESUT Staff and students on the needed knowledge to discourage overdependence on certificate and encourage knowledge diversification. “This workshop is key to our careers as students or staff. The knowledge gained here would come handy in helping us not to depend on our certificate for sustenance. Diversification is key and cross-pollination of ideas here today will stimulate the discourse, I welcome all of you”, he said.

The Director of Academic Planning, Prof Chike Anibeze, reminded the participants that although education remains the key factor in human development, he however noted that the existing realities in the 21^st century global growth has made it mandatory that education without skills acquisition is not enough. “Humanity is diversifying, things are changing drastically such that with certificate alone, you will be lost in the global trend. Acquiring a skilling and starting up a business of your own is very important in our global society today,” he said.   

A question-and-answer session followed, group photographs were taken, and closing prayers offered before participants exited the hall

Not only did the Vice Chancellor, but the DVC, Chike Nwoha, the dean of Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Uchenna Bonniface Ugwuanyi, also graced the workshop.