The Lagos State University Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education (LASU-ACEITSE) has rewarded three of its students with Entrepreneurial Grant Awards, with each applicant smiling home with a cheque of Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦2.5 million). The total Grant given to the three winners is Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦7.5) Million.
The event took place at the Centre’s Conference Hall, Friday, 26th July, 2024, main campus, Ojo, Lagos.
In her address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, represented by the Director/centre Leader, LASU-ACEITSE, Prof. Rasheed Sanni, commended the three winners, who emerged the best out of the sixteen (16) applications received by the screening and selection Committee.
Speaking further, she stated that the Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE-Impact) Project indicators resonate very well with the strategic goals of her administration for the University, especially, making the institution the best in West Africa.
“As part of our efforts at making the University the best in West Africa, this Management keyed into the ACEITSE’s activities that are aimed at improving us as individuals (students and staff) and improving our services as a University”, she noted.
She ended her address by promising to continue to sustain as well as improve the excellent academic and administrative performances of not only the centre, but, that of the entire University.
The Centre Leader, Prof. Rasheed Sanni, in his welcome address, thanked the Vice Chancellor and the Management for its unflinching support for the centre.
He said the event was 2-1, as the grant cheques would be presented to the trio of Agyemang Okyere Darko, Benjamin Onuorah and Uchenna Joy Uzuegbunam, who emerged winners after the painstaking selection process.
Also, he hinted that some beneficiaries would be presented brand new laptops during the ceremony.
He wished the beneficiaries the very best.
The Chairman, Entrepreneurial Grant Selection Committee, Prof. Banji Fajonyomi, in his overview of the selection process, praised all the applicants, saying they all did exceedingly well, but, winners must emerge.
He informed that variables adopted in selecting the final winners include originality, relevance to funding, potential impact on the community, feasibility model, team capability amongst others.
He congratulated the eventual winners, applauded those who applied, saying they all did well and the committee scored all, based on the variables listed.
Thereafter, Prof. Sanni presented the cheques to the winners, one after the other.
One of the winners, Agyemang Darko, who travelled all the way from Ghana, on behalf of the winners, gave a brief remark, thanking the centre for the grants. He assured that the grants would be used judiciously.
Before the ceremony came to an end, laptops were also presented to some deserving members of the University Community.
The event ended with a vote of thanks by the Deputy Registrar/Centre Secretary, Mr. Olabode Akinrinmade.
Some Deans, Deputy Registrars, members of the Aceitse Leadership, and students of the centre were at the well attended ceremony.
