UI launches School of Business, calls on IITA’s partnership
The University of Ibadan (UI) has established its School of Business (UISB) and set out its objectives during its first Eminent Persons Business Lecture held at the International Conference Centre, UI on 16 July. The event was witnessed by a number of important personalities including former Nigerian President and IITA Ambassador, his Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, as its first eminent guest lecturer.
Olusegun Obasanjo (third from left) and Kenton Dashiell (second from right) lauded the efforts of UISB.
This high-profile lecture series is part of a special framework towards achieving the objectives of UISB of deepening the application of business principles and practices in the management of the national economy; evolving innovative curriculum and outreach programs towards more purposeful management of the critical development levers of the economy such as oil and gas, agriculture, telecommunications, and the financial sector in consonance with the principle of management by exception; and to facilitate the evolution of a truly inclusive growth process through a credible participatory process anchored on a genuine partnership among the public/private sectors and the citizenry.
Chief Obasanjo lauded the efforts of organizers for the innovation of the UISB that will draw more people into the agricultural sector which is needed for the nation’s economic growth. In his address, he discussed the unlimited opportunities that agriculture offers the society and the possibilities that agriculture can provide for the financial stability of individuals and the nation.
Kenton Dashiell, DDG Partnerships for Delivery (P4D), thanked UISB for inviting IITA to partner with them in this undertaking. He said that IITA is in prime position to support UISB, being at the forefront of agricultural research in Africa and also physically located within Ibadan. He highlighted the activities of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) in Ibadan, Abuja, Kano, Borno State, and Onne, and emphasized on the increasing interest of Nigerian youth in agribusiness for income generation.
Dashiell stated that through this collaboration, MBA students from UISB can help IYA be more successful by conducting case studies on their businesses, while IITA could provide the MBA program practical agribusiness experiences for students, helping with curriculum development, and giving lectures when needed.
