Lead City University, Ibadan, has urged students to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance as essential tools for personal development and national growth. The charge was given at the 14th edition of the POISE 2026 event organized by the Institute of Personality Development and Customer Relationship Management (IPD-CRM) at the Adelaide Hall of the institution.
The event attracted a large number of students, academic and non-academic staff, community members, alumni, and other well-wishers who gathered to celebrate excellence, leadership, and entrepreneurship among students.
Vice-Chancellor's Remarks on Entrepreneurship Education
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the program, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, described the POISE Awards and Dinner as a longstanding initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial skills and positive values among students. According to him, the program, which began about 14 years ago, has remained a key component of the university's efforts to equip students with the skills and mindset required to succeed beyond the classroom.
“The program is designed for our final-year students who have been imparted with various skills and entrepreneurial competencies. We want our students to become self-reliant, job creators, and employers of labor rather than job seekers. As you can see, many of our students have showcased their talents and innovative abilities. This is an asset to the university, and we are proud of what they have achieved,” he said.
Adeyemo noted that the institution's commitment to entrepreneurship education has continued to yield positive results, with many of its alumni emerging as successful entrepreneurs, chief executives, and industry leaders across different sectors. He called on other universities to adopt similar initiatives that encourage innovation, creativity, and practical skills development among students.
“We are not competing with other universities. There is a lot we can learn from one another. As Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Private Universities in Nigeria, I believe institutions should collaborate and replicate good initiatives that contribute to national development,” he added.
Institute Head Emphasizes Soft Skills and Character
Earlier, the Head of the Institute of Personality Development and Customer Relationship Management and initiator of the program, Dr. Ayobami Owolabi, said the event was designed to reinforce the values, character, and soft skills that students had acquired during their years of study. He explained that beyond academic knowledge, students must cultivate qualities such as discipline, respect, effective communication, proper dressing, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
“The students should be able to put into practice the values we have imparted in them over time. They must demonstrate good character, professionalism, and soft skills in their daily lives if they are to succeed in their chosen careers,” he said. Owolabi stressed that personality development remains a critical ingredient for success in today's competitive environment, noting that employers increasingly place a premium on character, communication, and leadership abilities.
Oath of Allegiance and Awards Ceremony
The Registrar of the institute, Prof. Lambert Ihebuzor, who administered an oath of allegiance on the students, charged them to uphold and promote the ideals and philosophy of the institute and the university. As part of the activities marking the event, outstanding students and lecturers were honored with awards in various categories, including entrepreneurship, leadership, professionalism, innovation, outstanding dress sense, and the Young CEO Award. The organizers said the recognition was aimed at encouraging excellence, rewarding hard work, and inspiring students to become responsible leaders and contributors to society.
The event featured exhibitions, presentations, and networking sessions showcasing the entrepreneurial and creative abilities of students, reinforcing the university's commitment to producing graduates equipped for leadership, innovation, and self-reliance in a rapidly changing world.
