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.

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The House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Regulations on Tuesday conducted oversight/inspection on the ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Project in ESUT.

Led by the Honourable member representing Afikpo North/South federal constituency of Ebonyi State, Hon Iduma Igariwey Enwo, the committee inspected the Faculty of Engineering Laboratory building facility situated close to the University Medical Centre, the ESUT main Campus, Agbani.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie and his management team, took the committee round the various laboratories in the faculty where the committee made critical observations and promised to report back to the House and CBN for promt actions.

Speaking with the media after the inspection, Hon Enwo said the committee was in the university as part of its oversight Function to assess the level of completion of CBN sponsored projects in South East

“We have come to look at the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) project in the South East, one of them is located in this great institution, so that’s why I came here. I came to the Faculty of Engineering; the building was put up by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Firstly, I’m happy I came here and saw the building, which means the contract was consummated. But I have also made other observations, like the need to have the place equipped so that it justifies the intention of the Central Bank that set it up in the first place.
So, I think part of the recommendation is to see that the place is equipped.

“Some other issues would also concern other departments and agencies of government, but mine specifically is to inspect the project attracted by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the issues of maintenance could probably belong to the university itself,” he said

Hon Enwo who was the former President of Ohaneze Ndígbo, explained that the facility would be beneficial to the students in particular and the university in general

“The important thing is that we have an institution like this that is specifically tailored to the development of science and technology, which is the future of many countries. What we hope is that the students, for whom we have this project in the first place, will take advantage of it with the equipment and facilities I have seen here. The students should appropriate it and then make the best use of it, and the institution also should count themselves lucky. It’s not every institution that benefited from this.
Their duty is to make sure that it is being maintained and kept in proper shape,’ he said

Hon Enwo noted that the Faculty of Engineering two-storey building laboratory is the only project the apex bank is sponsoring in South East Tertiary institutions

Earlier during the Committee’s courtesy visit to the management of the university, the Vice-Chancellor reitrated the need for timely completion of of the laboratory to enable the university make optimal use of it.

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