By Wuraola Oyedokun
A professor of entrepreneurship and president of ICLED Business School, Lekki-Lagos, Princess Olajumoke Familoni, has said Nigeria has what it takes to boost its economic development with the ‘adire’ mechanised production process, which ICLED Business School is championing.
Familoni disclosed this on Saturday during the conferment of doctorate degree ceremony by the University of America, Curacao, the Netherlands and California, the USA, in partnership with Innovation Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development (ICLED) Business School.
The professor of management said that ICLED, as a business school aims to equip Nigerian business leaders and managers not just to survive but to think and thrive..
Familoni said: “We’re working with the Alake of Egbaland on a groundbreaking project to mechanise the adire production process. This initiative is poised to significantly impact Nigeria’s creative economy.
“Entrepreneurship is a personal passion of mine. As an apparel designer and manufacturer in the 1990s, I once wondered if Nigeria would ever be recognised on the global fashion map.
“Today, we’re seeing that recognition but my vision is even bigger. I want to see West come to Nigeria to source fashion just as they do in Southeast Asia. We’ve the talent, the resources, and the labour force; it’s a trillion dollar industry, and we can lead Nigeria to the forefront”.
She explained that the institution collaborated with the University of Lagos on developing career-enhancing programmes to address graduate unemployment; and have a well-crafted curriculum that includes job search strategies, mock interviews, career planning and essential soft-skills such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
Also speaking, a Professor in Organic Chemistry and chairman of the day,Oluwole Familoni, lauded the awardees for their resilience, intellectual excellence, and discipline in learning and character which singled them out for the honours.
“You’ve written your names in gold, in your efforts to advance Nigeria’s course, and for the betterment of our society through leardership and service,” he said.
The doctorate degree awardees include Oluseyi Oduntan, the executive chairman of Lanrope Group; Mudiaga Nwachukwu, a Nigerian legal professional with extensive expertise in corporate, maritime and compliance law; Adebayo Balogun, a distinguished Nigerian mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas industry.
Others include Charles Nwachukwu, a Nigerian legal expert and mediator with over two decades of experience in the petroleum industry; and Olumide Osineye, a seasoned Nigerian aviation professional with nearly three decades of experience in civil aviation safety, regulatory oversight and aviation security.
Diploma certificates were also awarded to graduating students of ICLED, while GreenSkills Initiative was presented with a plaque in recognition of its outstanding contribution to entrepreneurship, sustainability and skills development in Nigeria.
ICLED is often referred to as the Harvard Business School of Nigeria with operations offices in Nigeria and the USA. It offers certificate, professional development courses, diplomas and post-graduate programmes in partnership with foreign partner universities.
