ACTIVITIES

The inaugural meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies was held on January 24, 2007, paving the way for the formal take-off of the activities of the Centre. On January 25, 2007, the Centre hosted its very first Seminar on Entrepreneurship tagged "From Rags to Riches - The Goal of Entrepreneurship".. Distinguished and well acclaimed entrepreneurs constituted the resource persons for the Seminar. They include the Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Stella Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mrs. Ndidi Okonkwo-Nwuneli of LEAP Africa, Chief G. U. O. Okeke of GUO Motors, Mr. Molokwu Onyiuke of Bubbles, and Dr. John Onuorah of Chitis Confectioneries.

The Centre rode on the coat-tails of that first outing to create a much increased awareness of its Programmes, both within the University community and its immediate environs. Consequently, the first set of Diploma Students commenced lectures at the Temporary Office Block of the Centre, on March 5, 2007. Out of 88 pioneer students formally admitted to the Programme, 65 of them actually registered for training. Course instruction method is aimed at producing skill-based professionals. Thus, students have been encouraged to set up and manage small businesses, based on proper market survey and good feasibility study. Quite a number of their products, were recently on display at the Centre.

Currently, the Centre is set to take off with its short-duration Certificate Programme, aimed at artisans and small time entrepreneurs that dot the landscape in the South-East of Nigeria. Following a directive by the Board of Trustees, Outreach Centres of the Chike Okoli Centre will soon take off at Onitsha and Nnewi. Sensitization visits have already been paid to the offices of the Chambers of Commerce, Traders' Associations, and different Unions of Artisans in the immediate environment.

The Post-graduate Diploma Programme of the Centre will likely take off too, by September 2007. This will enable graduates of the different disciplines acquire certain vocational and entrepreneurial skills to enable them be involved in creative enterprise. The enthusiasm among our graduates is indeed quite infectious.

Finally, the Centre has sought out avenues of closer collaboration with the Federal Government sponsored Nnewi Technology Incubation Centre, and the Enugu SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Centre. This thrust will help the Chike Okoli Centre fulfil its policy goal of training entrepreneurs through business incubation and mentor-ship.