UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI, NIGERIA

PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT

OF

ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER (CEDKT)

Submitted By:
Prof. Engr. Prof. S. V. Irtwange Coordinator, Transfer, Entrepreneurship Development and Knowledge Transfer, Chancellor, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Makurdi, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria svirtwange@yahoo.com; svirtwange@yahoo.com; +2348035885567

May 2010

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Table of Contents
Cover Page 1 2 5 6 6 6 6 6 7

Table of Contents List of Figures 1.

BRIEF ON UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Establishment Location -

Mission and Mandate Philosophy and Approach Academic Units -

Objectives of Undergraduate Education at University of Agriculture, Makurdi -

2.

CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER (CEDKT) 2.1 2.2 2.3 Background -

10 10 11 12

The Role of Entrepreneurship in Nation Building Establishment of the Centre 2.3.1 -

Historical Antecedents in Nigerian Higher Institutions The Name of the Centre Status of the Centre -

12 13 13 13 15 15 15 15

2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 2.3.7 2.3.8

Rationale for the Centre Vision Mission Funding -

Organizational Structure

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2.3.9

Personnel Requirements

16 16 16 16 17 17

2.3.9.1 Administrative Staff 2.3.9.2 Subject Matter Experts 2.3.10 Institutional Linkages 2.4. Departments/Units of the Centre 2.4.1 -

Entrepreneurial Programme Services Department 2.4.1.1 Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Unit 2.4.1.2 Training, Conferences, Seminars and Workshop Unit 2.4.1.3 Grants, Collaborative Research, Linkages and Networking Unit 2.4.1.4 Entrepreneurship Publications and Extension Unit 2.4.1.5 Enterprises Management Unit

17

18

19

20 21

2.4.2

Entrepreneurial Curriculum Development and Implementation Department 2.4.2.1 Entrepreneurship Counselling Unit -

22 22

2.4.2.2 College/Departmental Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinating Unit 2.4.2.3 Students Entrepreneurial Organizations Unit 2.4.3

22

24

Entrepreneurship and Industrial Research Department 2.4.3.1 Technology Incubation Unit -

26 26

2.4.3.2 Science, Technology and Engineering Infrastructure Unit 2.4.3.3 Industrial Research Unit -

28 29

2.4.3.4 Raw Materials and Research Development Unit 3|Page

31

2.4.3.5 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Unit -

32

2.4.3.6 Technology Acquisition and Promotion Unit 2.4.3.7 Biotechnology Development Unit 2.4.3.8 Information Technology Development Unit 3. CONCLUSION -

34 37

38 38

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List of Figures
Figure 1 Title Proposed Organogram of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Knowledge Transfer (CEDKT) Page

40

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1. 1.1

BRIEF ON UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI Establishment

The University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) is one of the two Universities of Agriculture established by the Federal Government in January, 1988. A third one was added in 1993. UAM succeeded the Makurdi Campus of the University of Jos (established in 1984), which in turn had succeeded the former Federal University of Technology, Makurdi (established in 1980). The University was set up to pioneer new institutional approaches to the generation and dissemination of new agricultural technologies. The University of Agriculture, Makurdi was established against the background of an existing network of faculties of Agriculture in about 24 Federal owned general Universities and 14 State-owned Universities; 18 autonomous agricultural research institutions; extension services of the Agricultural Development Projects and a multiplicity of tertiary institutions offering sub-degree programs in agriculture. 1.2 Location

UAM is located in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State of Nigeria, a State generally known as the Food Basket of Nigeria. The ecology of Benue State supports extensive arable cropping and livestock production as well as fruit, palm, grains, legumes, root and tuber production. Benue State falls within the coordinates 747 and 1000 East, 625 and 88 North. 1.3 Mission and Mandate

The University of Agriculture, Makurdi aims at providing prompt solutions to farmers practical problems, raising farm output and incomes and accelerating the drive towards national food self-sufficiency. Specifically, UAM has been established to: Generate new high yielding agricultural technologies that are sufficiently adapted and relevant to specific local environments. Accelerate diffusion and mass adoption of new technologies on Nigerian farms through effective linkages with State extension service: Sensitize researchers to the pressing needs of farmers, agro-industrialists and consumers with respect to production technology; Bring the fruits of science to the doorstep of agro-industrial establishments in the form, amounts and time that they are needed most; Bring to the attention of agricultural researchers pressing problems on farmers fields with minimum delay: Train needed manpower that is consistent with the requirements of an integrated research extension system, and Assist in substantially raising farm output and incomes of Nigerian farmers as well as market quantities of food and fibre. 1.4 Philosophy and Approach

Philosophy: The underlying philosophy is that the average Nigerian farmer should have easy access to the fruits of scientific agriculture. This means that the University scientific community must work on the key practical problems of village farmers. Also, the students, to become useful and effective extension agents, must be adequately exposed to the discipline of 6|Page

practical farm planning, production and marketing and a period of supervised farming internship at the village level. The basic philosophy then is the democratization and liberalization of the scientific transformation of Nigerian agriculture with small scale farmers in the vanguard. Approach: In the execution of its primary mandate and mission, the University of Agriculture, Makurdi is expected to introduce innovative and revolutionary approaches to agricultural research extension and training. These include among others: Development of strong disciplinary core, with emphasis on applications in the general areas of crop production and husbandry: animal production and veterinary sciences; agricultural economics, rural sociology and home economics; agricultural engineering and technology: basic sciences and general studies, to provide strong training for the large number of subject-matter specialist required at all levels; Development of a virile outreach and extension service based on a two way LAB-TOLAND strategy aimed at promptly conveying research results from researchers laboratories to farmers fields and for relaying farmers field problems to researchers in the University; Development of a revitalized and reorganized co-operative extension system jointly operated by the State Ministries of Agriculture, the World Bank assisted Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) and other agencies on one hand, and the outreach programmes of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi on the other, with emphasis on the development of a core subject-matter specialists; Cultivation of research linkages between the 18 agricultural research institutes and the outreach programmes of the University; Development of a mission oriented agricultural research system that focuses on the practical problems of accelerated food and fibre production, storage, processing and utilization through the provision of an innovative package of adequate incentives for career advancement of researchers and extension workers engaged in finding solutions to practical problems of farmers and agro-industrialists; Concentration on the more applied forms of agricultural research which address pressing practical farm-level problems; Development of training facilities and communication technologies for imparting new farming skills to Nigerian farmers through on-the job training; Development of strong links between researchers in various disciplines in the University and subject-matter specialist in the Universitys outreach programme to enhance the practical relevance of faculty research and staff, and finally The University of Agriculture, Makurdi will conduct research and outreach programmes in the areas of storage, preservation, processing and marketing to enhance rural value added, reduce post-harvest losses and translate farm production increases into higher producer income gains for Nigerias farming majority. 1.5 Academic Units College of Agronomy o Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Science; B. Agric (Plant Breeding and Seed Science) o Department of Crop Production; B. Agric (Crop/Soil) o Department of Soil Science; B. Agric (Crop/Soil) o Department of Crop and Environmental Protection; B. Agric (Crop and Environmental Protection)

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College of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Management Technology o Department of Agricultural Economics; B. Agric (Agricultural Economics) o Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication; B. Agric (Agricultural Extension and Communication) o Department of Agricultural Management College of Agriculture and Science Education o Department of Agricultural Science Education; B. Agricultural Education o Department of Science Education; B. Sc (Ed) Statistics/Computer Science, B. Sc (Ed) Mathematics/Computer Science, B. Sc (Ed) Integrated Science, B. Sc (Ed) Chemistry, B. Sc (Ed) Biology, B. Sc (Ed) Physics, B Sc (Ed) Mathematics/Statistics, College of Animal Science o Department of Animal Production; B. Agric (Animal Production) o Department of Animal Nutrition; B. Agric (Animal Nutrition) o Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology; B. Agric (Animal Breeding and Physiology) College of Engineering o Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering; B. Eng (Agricultural and Environmental Engineering) o Department of Civil Engineering; B. Eng (Civil Engineering) o Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering; B. Eng (Electrical/Electronic Engineering) o Department of Mechanical Engineering; B. Eng (Mechanical Engineering) College of Food Technology o Department of Home Science and Management; B. Sc (Home Science and Management) o Department of Food Science and Technology; B. Sc (Food Science and Technology) College of Forestry and Fisheries o Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; B. Fish o Department of Forestry Production and Products; B. For (Forestry, Wildlife and Range Management) o Department of Social and Environmental Forestry o Department of Wildlife and Range Management College of Science o Department of Biological Sciences; B. Sc Zoology, B. Sc Microbiology, B. Sc Botany, B. Sc Biochemistry o Department of Chemistry; B. Sc Chemistry o Department of Maths/Stat/Computer Science; B. Sc (Hons) Statistics/Computer Science, B. Sc (Hons) Mathematics/Computer Science o Department of Physics; B. Sc Physics, B. Sc Industrial Physics o Department of Educational Foundation and General Studies o Department of Remedial Science College of Veterinary Medicine o Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine o Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine o Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

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o Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine o Department of Veterinary Animal Production o Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology o Department of Veterinary Anatomy o Department of Veterinary Medicine Postgraduate School Directorate of Linkages Directorate of Alumni Relations Directorate of Research Development Directorate of Cooperative Extension Centre (CEC) Directorate of Academic Planning Directorate, Seed Technology Centre Institute of Food Security (IFS) University Teaching and Research Farms University Commercial Farms Information and Communication Technology Centre (ICTC) UAM Consultancy Services Veterinary Teaching Hospital SIWES Objectives of Undergraduate Education at University of Agriculture, Makurdi

The undergraduate programme is tailored towards fulfilling the developmental aspirations of developing agriculture, including the objectives of the new National Agricultural Policy. These include: (1) accelerated production with the aim of attaining self-sufficiency in basic food and fibre; (2) enhancement of farm incomes; (3) increased foreign exchange earning from agriculture as contribution to the diversification of the country's total foreign exchange earnings; (4) provision of raw materials for the country's agro-industrialization; (5) promotion of rural employment and, (6) enhancement of National Food Security. The objectives of the undergraduate training programme at UNIAGRIC, Makurdi are, among others, to: Enhance students' understanding of the role of agriculture and rural development in the country's accelerated drive towards food and fibre self-reliance and self-sufficiency, economic reconstruction and social justice, thereby enabling agriculture to fulfill its historical mission in the country's overall economic growth; Inculcate the basic principles in the physical, social and biological sciences relevant for agricultural production, processing, storage, preservation and consumption; Teach students the relationship between human needs and resources, farm production activities and the environment and between production systems and the underlying sociocultural milieu; Inculcate in the students the fundamental issues of economic interdependence in a global setting with particular emphasis on trade flows in agricultural commodities and the impact of developments in world commodity and foreign exchange markets on Nigerian Agriculture, including the impact of trade policies in Nigerian agriculture; Teach production-oriented practical skills on farm production and management through a combination of production-oriented courses, internships and village-based attachment to small scale, medium scale and large scale farmers; Teach practical skills in post-harvest preservation, storage and processing to reduce heavy losses from physical and chemical damage; 9|Page

Sensitize students to the practical farming problems encountered by village-level farmers to provide a solid foundation for post graduation self-employment and to enhance their effectiveness as extension agents, and Inculcate in students the most effective communicative techniques for disseminating information on new technologies to farmers, agro-industrialists and consumers.

2.

CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER (CEDKT) Background

DEVELOPMENT

AND

2.1

National governments the world over are striving to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of halving the incidence of poverty by 2015 but poverty cannot be halved if unemployment persists. However, what we need now is not rhetoric, not theorizing, not just creating new ideas but action towards solving the real domineering problems of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. The educational system in Nigeria has passed through series of transformations geared towards repositioning it to be science and technology based and to supply the needed manpower to transform the Nigerian economy from that of traditional agricultural based to an industrialized economy. Today the Nigerian government is implementing some reforms in our educational systems in a bid to repositioning our educational system and making it better poised to meeting the demands of industry. There is therefore the need to promote and foster entrepreneurial culture and mindset, skill acquisition, self-employment, economic independence and self-actualization among the graduates of the University system. Our graduates must imbibe the entrepreneurial spirit which is manifested in persistence, confidence, boldness, foresight and sacrifice. They must have the poise to start their own small scale enterprise and possess good/practical knowledge of basic business management, business development service and acquire life skills and leadership qualities required to lead an organization. He/she should have practical orientation to solving problems and must be ready to apply the knowledge acquired in the University. Thus the task of moulding our graduates towards achieving these products would require the active cooperation and involvement of the students, the lecturers and the university administration. The unemployment situation in Nigeria has been traced to poor entrepreneurship development in addition to macroeconomic distortions. Besides, dwindling academic standards in our tertiary institutions has exacerbated this problem, and this is quite worrisome. Also, the high incidence of poverty which has shaken the economic foundations of our country demands urgent attention in order to save our economy and our people. In order to reverse these ugly trends, and in line with the federal government policy of promoting private sector participation in economic development, the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, a foremost academic institution in Nigeria is therefore desirous of establishing a Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Knowledge Transfer. The Centre shall offer educational and skill acquisition programmes for people to gain knowledge and skills to become entrepreneurs and start up and manage small and medium scale enterprises of their own. That is, education for self-employment.

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2.2

The Role of Entrepreneurship in Nation Building

Training in entrepreneurship has been used by such countries like Germany to set up unique engineering oriented business programmes in the University where their potential engineers are encouraged to seek out ideas, and subsequently develop the promising ones from invention phase to commercialization. Furthermore, entrepreneurship programmes developed in some Universities have graduated into business schools. For example countries like Norway have utilized entrepreneurship to inculcate innovation spirit, deliberately targeted at the youths. This example proves what educators have opined that entrepreneurship education will enable potential entrepreneurs and create avenues for people to manage innovations, manage entrepreneurial process and develop their potentials as managers of creativity in given fields. These programmes if properly planned and executed will ensure that the issue of selfemployment and job creation will increase. On the other hand, menaces usually visible due to youth unemployment and restiveness will be highly reduced. This reality is one of the greatest challenges facing leaders in Nigeria. Nigerian education is currently at a crossroad as far as producing individuals who will work to deserve and justify their pay, work independently, globally and bring creativity into their work place. The current mismatch between what Nigerian economy needs and what Nigerian youths are made to study in school is becoming very appalling. The result of a three week large scale, rapid survey jointly sponsored by National University Commission (NUC) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) to determine the needs of the labour market that Nigeria University graduates are failing to meet, showed that of 100 individuals and 20 organizations visited, 44% rated Nigerian science graduates as average in competence, 56% rated them as average in innovation, 50% rated them average in rational judgement, 63% as average in leadership skills, 44% as average in creativity. On needed skills like literacy, oral communication, information technology, entrepreneurial, analytical, problem solving and decision making, 60% rated them as poor. This data can be said to explain why there has been very obvious increase in unemployment rate. One of the reason given was that these graduates were simply unemployable. Furthermore, the graduates were said to exhibit the following weaknesses according to the NUC/ETF report. Poor classroom management and control Shallow subject matter knowledge Poor computer skills Inability to communicate effectively in English Lack of professionalism Lack of self-reliance and entrepreneurial skills Poor attitude to work. The question therefore is, how are the following weaknesses being addressed in schools to reposition Nigerian youths for nation building? Put differently, what practical skills or curriculum is being put in place to address their obvious lack? It starts with developing programmes in entrepreneurship centres where people are trained to develop and acquire skills. The youths should equally be given opportunities to gain experiences as they are linked with mentors, get access to information and be given opportunity for growth. In order 11 | P a g e

words, they are provided with information, knowledge, skills, attitudes that would enable them perform well as business men and women. They will turnout to be business men who have developed business capacities and are learning to make money. These competences will in turn help them display their zeal for nation building in a very efficient manner. Anything short of these realities will be handling Nigerian problems of repositioning the youths with kid gloves. 2.3 2.3.1 Establishment of the Centre Historical Antecedents in Nigerian Higher Institutions

Entrepreneurship education is on the priority agenda of the Musa YarAdua led Administration in Nigeria. This is especially in realisation of the need to redress the problem of graduate unemployment in the country and create job opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths. The task before tertiary institutions therefore is to change the mindset of our youths towards creativity, innovation and enterprise in order for them to be job creators rather than job seekers. To achieve this objective, the Federal Government has approved the mandatory introduction of entrepreneurship education in all institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. The training in this programme will entail both theoretical and practical exposure, including mentoring and get up and go schemes. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Education has directed all the tertiary education regulatory agencies to ensure the implementation of the Presidential directive. Accordingly, a Presidential Committee on Entrepreneurship Education in Nigerian Higher Education Institutions has been established under the Chairmanship of the National Universities Commission. The Committee has evolved a three block approach of capacity building, establishment of Centres of Entrepreneurship and Knowledge Transfer, as well as microfinance scheme. Global entrepreneurship development practices indicate that whereas some institutions may create self-contained courses and programs aimed at generic entrepreneurial competencies, some may embed the skills into occupational programs, and others may create real or simulated enterprises as learning environments. Nigeria has chosen the embedded or integrating skills approach which assumes that entrepreneurship is a fork on a career path that begins with employment - a job where students acquire the skills they need to one day make it on their own. To support this notion, entrepreneurial skills and habits are integrated into the curricula of other occupational programs, addressing problems typically encountered by new and small-business owners. In the case of the institutions under the supervision of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), arrangements have been concluded to implement governments directive on the introduction of entrepreneurial education in all programmes in these institutions. NBTE has developed curricula, teachers guide and training manuals for entrepreneurship education for the ND and HND levels as follows: EEd 126: Introduction to Entrepreneurship EEd 216: Practice of Entrepreneurship EEd 413: Entrepreneurship Development Similary, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has also developed curricula for all programmes in the Universities for the following courses: 12 | P a g e

 GST 223: Introduction to Entrepreneurial Skills (2 Credits) ESP 311: Introduction to Entrepreneurship Studies (2 Credits) This is a benchmark minimum academic standard for the Entrepreneurship Studies Programme (ESP) for the Universities with effect from 2007/2008 academic session. Some programmes in the University of Agriculture, Makurdi have already embedded entrepreneurship education in the curriculum. However, there is need for harmonisation across all programmes in the University. The Government of Nigeria has also directed that entrepreneurship study centers must be established in all Universities to ensure students are fully given hands-on opportunity to acquire the requisite skills of their preference. This is in view to complementing the compulsory entrepreneurship programme offered students. 2.3.2 The Name of the Centre:

There shall be established at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi a centre to be called Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Knowledge Transfer otherwise abbreviated CEDKT. 2.3.3 Status of the Centre:

The Centre shall operate as an academic centre under the office of the Vice Chancellor 2.3.4 Rationale for the Centre

There is high rate of unemployment in Nigeria conservatively estimated at over 25%. Most secondary school leavers and university graduates in Nigeria are unemployed and again, it is estimated that over 71% of students who graduate from Nigeria Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education do not find jobs (Daily Independent, Feb. 7, 2007:A4). In fact, unemployment has become chronic over the years, depopulating the rural areas and aggravating the evils of slums in cities and even townships. The facts on ground show that the population is increasing and job opportunities are getting leaner and leaner. The implications of these are the unwholesome attitude and restiveness of our youths. In fact, unemployment, among others, has exacerbated social ills and delinquent behaviour among youths, especially armed robbery, political thuggery, militancy, terrorism and advance fee fraud, with government spending a lot of money on crime control. There is falling standard of education and poor quality of graduates. In Nigeria currently, secondary school and university education turn out a large chunk of unskilled, unenterprising and unemployable school leavers and graduates. A study conducted on labour market expectations of Nigeria graduates found that university education in Nigeria does not adequately prepare graduates for employment/self-employment. This is manifested in the number of deficiencies the graduates exhibit in the work place, namely: lack of analytical and ICT skills required in work place; lack of entrepreneurial and problem solving/decision making skills; inadequate technical skills as exhibited by their inability to appropriately apply acquired knowledge to the workplace; ignorance in the use of instruments/equipment due to inadequate practical experience; minimal comprehension of problems and low solution profferability. 13 | P a g e

There is lack of entrepreneurial spirit among secondary school leavers and higher education graduates. Most secondary school leavers and university graduates always focus their minds on job search without thinking of how they could use the knowledge they have acquired to create jobs. Most streets in Nigeria are littered with robust youths, often secondary schools graduates and dropouts, engaged in motorcycle transport and in street hawking. Besides the dangers these youths are exposed to, they are often accused of incessant robbery and assassination crimes often witnessed in most States of Nigeria. The banning or restriction of their operations in some cities in Nigeria attests to this fact. A rapid appraisal of the situation shows that most of these youths engage in these activities because they lack requisite skills and empowerment that will enhance self employment. The CEDKT will help train these people in requisite skills thereby empowering them for self reliance and thus enhancing the reduction in crimes often attributed to them. In addition, the secondary school curriculum was expected to empower school leavers in practical science and technology skills. However, this laudable objective has never been achieved especially due to lack of qualified teachers and requisite facilities to enhance skill acquisition. Thus the CEDKT will fill this gap by providing the practical skills to the school leavers and will go further to train them on how they could use the acquired skills and manage their own businesses. Furthermore, the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) designed to enable students acquire practical industrial training through industrial attachment has been marred by a multiplicity of problems such as funding difficulties, students truancy, monitoring and supervision difficulties, industry placement shortfall, and incongruence between university curriculum and industrial production practices. The establishment of the Centre will achieve in a cost effective manner, the objective of SIWES. The establishment of the Centre is therefore justified for the following reasons, among others to: generate employment opportunities for Nigerians in pursuance of the provisions of the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS). It will therefore enhance the actualization of NEEDS especially in the areas of employment generation, poverty reduction and wealth creation. The goals are wealth creation, employment generation, poverty reduction and value reorientation while the implementation strategies include empowering the people, promoting private enterprises, among others; develop entrepreneurship spirit amongst Nigerians and provide insight into the tools, techniques and framework for managing all functional areas of business enterprises, including production, marketing, personnel and finance; develop skills of would be entrepreneurs to successfully start, expand, diversify and manage a business enterprise as well as link them with financial institutions to start up capital; raise a new class of entrepreneur/owners, who can compete globally and succeed in managing micro/small/medium enterprises and provide the bridge for future industrialization of the country. facilitate the bridging of the gap between industry needs and theoretical knowledge in science and technology. This will lead to improved manpower development, employment generation and technological advancement.

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2.3.5

Vision

The vision is a fully empowered Nigerian youth through the catalytic and pioneering role of micro, small and medium enterprises made possible through entrepreneurship development and knowledge transfer. 2.3.6 Mission

The mission is to promote entrepreneurial culture and mind-set, skill acquisition, selfemployment, economic independence and self-actualization through free enterprise education. 2.3.7 Funding

The CEDKT shall be funded through statutory allocations, internally generated revenue activities of the Centre and University, government, special grants/subventions, contributions and donations from agencies, governmental and non-governmental organisations (national and international) and outsourcing of funds. The Centre shall demonstrate entrepreneurship through involvement in revenue generation activities, which activities will serves as hands on experience or get-up-and-go schemes for trainees. Funding is required to run and maintain the equipment, facilities and services of the Centre. 2.3.8 Organizational Structure

In order to deliver on its core objectives, the Centre shall be organized into multi-disciplinary areas according to programmes as there is a business side to every subject or course of study. There shall be a Director for the Centre to be appointed by the Vice Chancellor. There shall be a Deputy Director who shall also be appointed by the Vice Chancellor. There shall be an Advisory Board made up of the following: Deans of Colleges Directors of Academic Directorates College Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinators Faculty Advisor, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), University of Agriculture, Makurdi President, SIFE, University of Agriculture, Makurdi (Student) President, Academy for Entrepreneurship (AES) Club, University of Agriculture, Makurdi (Student) Chairman, AES Club Board of Advisers, University of Agriculture, Makurdi SIFE-UAM Business Advisory Board Members Benue State NYSC Entrepreneurship Programme Coordinator SIFE National Programmes Coordinator or his Representative President, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria or his Representative Benue State Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Small and Medium Enterprises General Manager, UAM Global Company, Ltd Director, UAMCONSULT President, UAM Multipurpose Cooperative and Loans Society President, ASUU THRIFT Investment Officer, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Agriculture, Makurdi Branch State Coordinator, NYSC Benue State 15 | P a g e

The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Benue State President, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Benue State Chapter President, Benue State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Manufacturing and Agriculture (BECCIMA) Chairmen of Chapters of Relevant Professional Bodies in Benue State Heads of all Military and Paramilitary Formations in Benue State or their Representatives The detailed organisational structure is shown in Figure 1. 2.3.9 Personnel Requirements

All personnel requirements are to be sourced within the University as much as possible. 2.3.9.1 Administrative Staff 1 No. Director 1 No. Deputy Director 1 No. Deputy Registrar CEDKT Secretary/Legal Adviser 1 No. Confidential Secretary I 1 No. Chief Secretarial Assistant 2 No. Clerical Officers 2 No. Messenger/Cleaners 2.3.9.2 Subject Matter Experts 3 No. Head of CEDKT Departments 16 No. Head of CEDKT Units 9 No. College Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinators 36 No. Departmental Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinators 2 No. Professional Staff per Skills Acquisition Trade 2.3.10 Institutional Linkages The need for linkage relationships with bodies external to the University derives from the multidisciplinary nature of the enterprise of the Centre, which requires technical inputs from diverse professional areas. In the University, this diversity is guaranteed by the presence of a large pool of experts located in the academic departments and other areas. The success of the Centre in implementing its programmes depends largely on the presence of suitable mechanisms for establishing internal linkages to tap from the available expertise. The establishment of the Centre is not only premised on the possibility of internal linkages with Colleges, Departments and other Centres but also on external links as the intellectual and technical resource base for entrepreneurial outreach works. The external linkages would involve working in association with national and international organizations, governmental bodies for ensuring the delivery of entrepreneurial services. Some of the organizations to partner with include: National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) 16 | P a g e

National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) National Universities Commission (NUC) Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Nigeria Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies(AES), Nigeria Education Trust Fund (ETF) Science and Technology Education Post-Basic (STEP-B) Project The World Bank Country Office, Abuja, Nigeria Departments/Units of the Centre Entrepreneurial Programme Services Department

2.4. 2.4.1

The programme services department will consist of five units: Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Unit Training, Conferences, Seminars and Workshops Unit Grants, Collaborative Research, Linkages and Networking Unit Entrepreneurship Publications and Extension Unit Enterprises Management Unit 2.4.1.1 Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Unit Entrepreneurship is not just skill acquisition for acquisition sake. It is acquisition of skills, ideas, etc for the sake of creating employment for self and others. It leads to the development of micro, small, medium and sometimes large scale businesses based on creativity and innovation. The success of these businesses in turn helps in building and developing the nation. It also reduces poverty rate, which is a visible increment of employment rate among the youths. However entrepreneurship requires training. It is becoming clear that certain parts of it can be taught. Entrepreneurs are made through teaching but could also be born. The programme is equally built on the premise that traditional vocational training programmes for youths, lack the entrepreneurship and business management training that would enable graduates to set up and manage viable and/or sustainable enterprises. Subsequently there is a gap between vocational skills training programs and market opportunities that exist. In its approach, the entrepreneurship training will employ the market demand-driven approach through periodic scientific action-oriented market research to identify relevant vocational skills training for the youth. The programme will not employ the traditional approach of building various skill acquisition laboratories in the training centre. Experience over time has shown that this is not cost-effective because once the existing vocational skills at the centres fade away as a result of technology change, change in fashion, change in demand and focus, etc., the equipment and personnel become redundant. Thus after the scientific identification of the relevant skills, the entrepreneurship centre will contract the services of a reputable master trainer in the field to provide hands-on-training to the youths at the Center, or the master trainers premises.

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Some of the ventures recommended by NUC to be focused upon include the following: 1. Soap/detergent, tooth brushes and tooth paste making 2. Photography 3. Brick, nails, screws making 4. Dyeing/textile blocks paste making 5. Rope making 6. Plumbing 7. Vulcanising 8. Brewing 9. Glassware production/ceramic production 10. Paper production 11. Water treatment/conditioning/packaging 12. Food processing/packaging/preservation 13. Metal working/fabrication - steel and aluminium door and windows 14. Training industry 15. Vegetable oil and salt extractions 16. Fisheries/aquaculture 17. Refrigeration/air conditioning 18. Plastic making 19. Farming (crop) 20. Domestic electrical wiring 21. Radio/TV repairs 22. Carving 23. Weaving 24. Brick laying/making 25. Bakery 26. Tailoring 27. Iron welding 28. Building drawing 29. Carpentry 30. Leather tanning 31. Interior decoration 32. Printing 33. Animal husbandry (poultry, piggery, goat, etc) 34. Metal craft blacksmith, tinsmith, etc 35. Sanitary wares 36. Vehicle maintenance 37. Bookkeeping 2.4.1.2 Training, Conferences, Seminars and Workshops Unit The Centre shall be poised to inspire, educate and motivate our youths and the unemployed for the better. Our goal shall be to rapidly create an identity for the Centre in order to enhance its viability by benefiting from a strong network of organized public and private sector institutions, practitioners, operators and experts within and outside the country. The Centre would specifically continue with the mandate of changing the mindset of students and staff of institutions and also engage in training, conference, seminar and workshops for students, staff, the unemployed, retirees and others. These goals would be aggressively pursued by mounting:

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Certificate courses in various topics on entrepreneurship ranging from a period of 2 weeks and 6 months duration. Short training courses on key areas of capacity building of 3-5 days duration Workshops, conferences, seminars, etc of 1-2 days duration for creation of awareness on topical entrepreneurial and knowledge transfer issues Business plan competitions among students Industry visits and excursions Role model interactions and mentoring

The training concept evolves from the realization that while entrepreneurs are neither born nor made, potential entrepreneurs can be developed and stimulated to start their own businesses through appropriate interventions. The program will provide such intervention through a package of sub-programs consisting of training, consultancy and financing. The entrepreneurship training does not and cannot spoon-feed entrepreneurs, but will strongly support the full development of the potentials and capabilities of independent - minded and self-confident entrepreneurs who can successfully exploit business opportunities and overcome challenges in the environment. The training programme will be built on the notion that prescribing fixed solutions to entrepreneurs only stifles innovation, increases dependence and reduces competitiveness. If entrepreneurs are good and confident enough to carry out their business and if their business through systematic evaluation appears viable, they should be supported by finance and other types of assistance. The program itself will not provide direct business financing to its graduates; it will ensure the participation and cooperation of financing institutions actively involved in lending to small enterprises within the national micro finance policy framework developed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Unit will constantly work towards making Nigerians aware of the potentials of the resources God has endowed the nation with through the media, publications, exhibitions, seminars, conferences and workshops. 2.4.1.3 Grants, Collaborative Research, Linkages and Networking Unit To industrialize our country, the university lecturer must reach out to government, community, industry and the whole world. He should avail himself of opportunities to do research and advance. Without research, he/she cannot bring new ideas capable of entrepreneurially transforming our youths into his lecture notes. Thus beside the meagre research funds provided by the Government, the lecturers should avail themselves of international competitive grants that abound. There is need to prepare a shopping list to guide and actively assist lecturers in this regard. A university lecturer should reach out to the industry through his/her cutting edge research and innovation. Collaboration, linkages and networking are the watch words. Lethargy and fatalism have no room in the mind of a modern day lecturer. The Unit will assist lecturers to seek increased donor support, and to do more with less or rather to use resources wisely. In order to meet the demands of producing efficient graduates and to fall into the category of World Class Universities based on Webometric Ranking, Nigerian university lecturers cannot rely on funds from government for innovation, research and development. The university academics should make use of numerous institutional competitive grants opportunities 19 | P a g e

available to improve their relevance and establish linkages with industry and private sector in teaching and research. The Unit will therefore partner with trade groups, NGOs, government ministries, departments and agencies, research and technological institutions and multilateral/donor agencies, etc to create a dynamic network of stakeholders in the development of entrepreneurship in Nigeria through innovation, teaching, research and development. 2.4.1.4 Entrepreneurship Publications and Extension Unit The Centres activities and records of achievements shall be documented in research reports, technical memoranda, technical information bulletin for industry, annual reports, compendium of selected technologies for industrial development in Nigeria, and development of technological capabilities in Nigeria. There are innovations and research efforts supported by the university but majority of which are yet to receive robust academic reviews to assist case analysis. Hence, the need to document answers to the following questions: How often has the University been a first mover? How many awards have the University won for innovation and creativity? What radical changes has the University inspired in the educational sector? To what extent has the University made things to happen in the educational sector? What are the Universitys challenges in dealing with plagiarization of research works? The CEDKT intends to fill this yawning gap by publicizing patterns of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the University; encouraging the development of structural models of innovation behaviour among individuals in the university; and evolving criteria for profiling and celebrating innovative students, employees and departments for purpose of awards undertaking the preparation, publication and dissemination of useful technical information to industries and researchers. The extension component will have as objectives to persuade public and private organizations to sustain entrepreneurial culture among youths; design extension programmes to inspire innovative youths in creating technology driven new firms; identify several titles on emerging innovation horizons in the University due for funding; and seek support for research towards evolving an entrepreneurship theory based on the Nigerian perspective. engage in technology transfer activities to the public through training courses and dissemination of pre-feasibility reports, and also provide consultancy services to individuals and other institutions in Nigeria. The Unit is expected to go beyond the recommendation stage of research by initiating actionable and replicable projects such as design projects to inspire the youth on a trajectory of innovation organise an innovation based Reality Show to extend the horizons of the youths; and developing academic tourism capacity

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Partnership of the University with the NYSC Benue State Entrepreneurship Initiative (an example of the University entrepreneurship extension/outreach programme) The Benue State NYSC entrepreneurship initiative is a scheme where young graduates posted within the state are being trained in different fields of endeavour, which prepare and give them entrepreneurship skills and exposes them to the new technological outfits, which makes them better equipped for job opportunity and self reliance. The University has therefore gone into partnership with the NYSC to train and equip NYSC members in the following areas: Garri factory mini industry repairs of existing machine; expert advice and coaching on how to manage the machines, production and packaging techniques Factory for fish pond how to build a fish pond and its maintenance, how to brood fish fingerlings and train corps members on its production; expert advice and coaching on how to manage a fish farm and how to make feeds Poultry farm repair of old existing farm site; expert advice on poultry keeping, making feeds and healthcare of birds Groundnut paste production what machineries to be used, chemicals needed and how to set up production factory and all equipment; expert advice and coaching on how to process, package and store Cassava pellets production machine for production of cassava pellets drying machine, packaging machine, processes of preservation; expert advice and coaching on all processing techniques, packaging and maintenance of machines Fruit juice production extraction, sucking machines, packaging techniques and equipment maintenance; expert advice and coaching on all processing techniques, packaging and maintenance of machines The University, through a group of experts, is therefore providing services to the NYSC in the area of factory building, equipping, maintenance and training of corp members on the different aspects of processing, packaging, sealing and labelling and getting all processed raw materials ready for the market. 2.4.1.5 Enterprises Management Unit It is expected that the Centre would embark on several enterprises to serve as wealth creation, to provide hands on experiences for both staff and students and for purpose of generating revenue for funding some of the activities of the Centre. This Unit shall therefore be responsible for the day-to-day running/operation of all the enterprises responsible for the supervision of all entrepreneurship education practical experience in the assigned institutional enterprise; responsible for the welfare and training of all staff; responsible for project execution in line with the project specifications; responsible for procurement, delivery and commissioning of equipment for all project enterprises; ensure that training of various personnel is carried out effectively and on schedule; ensure in-house continuous training of all staff in entrepreneurship and certification to participate in course delivery to students; submit quarterly reports of the activities of the enterprises to the Director prepare and present the audited financial report of the enterprises to the CEDKT management committee.

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2.4.2

Entrepreneurial Curriculum Development and Implementation Department

The universities need to be accountable to the students, parents, government and the general public. Employers are wary of the university products in Nigeria and they are in need of competent graduates. The public service is right sizing and the government is promoting private sector initiatives. In the face of current realities, universities are being called upon not only to tailor curricula to local labor market needs, but also to build entrepreneurs who can be on their own. The universities in Nigeria should start by tailoring the curriculum to meet the demands of the industry and that of a self reliant graduate. For example, new curricula can be introduced to encourage students in public health to use their knowledge in community projects. The curriculum development and implementation department will consist of three units: Entrepreneurship Counselling Unit College/Departmental Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinating Unit Students Entrepreneurial Organisations Unit 2.4.2.1 Entrepreneurship Counselling Unit The students need to be given counselling in the areas of entrepreneurship. First, the students should avoid all bad behaviours and vices, namely cultism, examination malpractice, drunkenness among others and face their studies. Previous record shows that students that indulge in these vices rarely graduate from the university. If they manage to graduate, they go on and build a career in crime and usually end up badly as they become target of security agents. Besides, the natural law of what you sow is what you reap will always take its full course. Second, to become entrepreneurial, the students should always demand for better and practical knowledge from their lecturers. This they can do not by carrying placards or insulting their lecturers but in a polite and respectful manner. Students can equally improve their performance by forming study group/innovation clubs and associations. Study groups share material, ideas and information about latest developments in their areas of study. Study groups help students to develop a practical orientation to problem solving as they brain storm and seek solutions to problems. Study group/innovation clubs should not be strictly for studying for examination. Such clubs will develop new ideas and if possible bring it to the market place through the help of their lecturers and the university administration. Skill acquisition should be the watchword of any student who wants to be entrepreneurial - ICT skills, Language Skills, Engineering skills, among others. At the end of each vacation, a skill thirsty student would have picked up one skill. Who said that a graduate of engineering should not possess tailoring skills, or that a graduate of linguistics should not be an ICT specialist or a programmer. Hard work pays. 2.4.2.2 College/Departmental Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinating Unit The era of lecturers delivering lectures with lecture materials used over twenty years ago has gone. To meet the demands of building entrepreneurial graduates, the university lecturers must retool and re-equip themselves. A practical orientation (how-to-do-it) should be given to every lecture. Case studies and ICT instructional material should always be used in delivering lectures. Thus lecturing becomes participatory with the students being active participants. The aim should always be to train the students to meet the demands of the 22 | P a g e

industry and to become self reliant after graduation. The era of training students to meet the demands of public service has gone. The goal of the college/departmental entrepreneurship courses is to inculcate in the trainees the ability to: assess his/her strength and ability; seek information and advice; make decisions; plan his/her time and energy; carry through an agreed responsibility; communicate and negotiate; deal with people in power and authority; solve problems, resolve conflict; evaluate performance and use feedback to improve; and cope with stress and tension; and achieve self confidence This may be achieved through the implementation of the following work schedules by the coordinators at the college/departmental levels as follows: arrange the composition of the training team for the entrepreneurship courses; arrange the experiential enterprise training for the students for the entrepreneurship courses collate result of students in the entrepreneurship courses; submit reports on the implementation of the curriculum for the entrepreneurship courses as appropriate; arrange the logistics of entrepreneurial extra-curricula activities and out of class learning visits for students in an entrepreneurship course; coordinate/supervise all activities of the entrepreneurship courses; design and organize the on-the-job training workshops for all staff involved in the teaching/coordination of entrepreneurship courses every semester; make recommendations on the composition of the teaching team for each course; design and organize the train-the trainer workshops for all staff every semester; and carry out all other duties as may be assigned by the Director Typical Curriculum Re-engineering in University of Agriculture, Makurdi: In order to train students who will graduate to be job creators and not job seekers, the University introduced a General Studies course GST 213: Basic Management and Entrepreneurial Skills (2 Credits) for all 200-level students in the University. At the level of the College of Engineering another General Engineering Studies Course has been introduced EGS 302: Entrepreneurship Studies (2 Credits) for all 300-level students of the College. At the level of the Departments, and in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering for example, students are made to take the following courses at 500-level: EAE 503 New Venture Financing and Management (2 Credits) EME 503 Engineering Management, Economics and Law I (3 Credits) EAE 504 Industrial Studies (3 Credits) EAE 506 Professional Engineering Practice (2 Credits) These courses are meant to equip the graduates with entrepreneurial, managerial and professional skills to create jobs in their various fields of study. Similar strategies are being 23 | P a g e

adopted in all other Colleges and Departments in the University. The major impediment to curriculum changes at the level of institutions is the fact that the NUCs minimum standard seem actually to be the maximum standard. 2.4.2.3 Students Entrepreneurial Organisations Unit There are two students entrepreneurial organisations currently operating in the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. There is therefore the need for the coordination of the activities of theses student organisations and other similar ones that may come up in the future. (a) Students In Free Enterprise (www.sife.org)

Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a unique worldwide organisation that strategically links students, universities and businesses. SIFE encourages the personal and professional development of new business leaders, the creation and exchange of new research, the dissemination of successful business practices, teaching of others how to succeed, and a high level of communication between all parties. SIFEs mission is to provide tertiary students the best opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of enterprise and innovation in a market economy. SIFE students take what they are learning in their classrooms about business and use such to solve real life problems for real people. SIFEs vision is helping people achieve their dreams through free enterprise education and providing students the best opportunity to make a difference by developing leadership through teamwork and teaching others the principles of free enterprise. The vision and mission of SIFE is to direct students mind and soul and body from its early stage into ethical self-reliance mode. To achieve this, is to directly involve and create in students mind the values of entrepreneurship and free enterprise through the learning, practicing and teaching of leadership, teamwork and communication skills. It is the business of SIFE to inculcate early in life, the idea of fending for ones self and not always aiming and waiting for government jobs and other employments; how to be ones own boss by starting, developing and managing business; how to help change the poor life in our community, other communities as well as what they learn in the classroom and use their knowledge to better communities as well as establish a variety of communities outreach programmes that teach free enterprise. It teaches concepts such as planning organizing, budgeting, accounting, supply and demand. SIFE judging criteria is anchored on Market Economics, Success Skills, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Business Ethics and Program Sustainability. Aptly captured, the MISSION of SIFE is to provide College and University students the best opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching principles of FREE ENTERPRISE. The VISION of SIFE which is helping people achieve their dreams through free enterprise education is achieved through: * * Community Service Philosophy: Teaching Philosophy: Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime Tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, involve me and I will learn People support what they help create

Leadership Philosophy:

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The University of Agriculture as an institution is a member of this worldwide organization. The University administration as a matter of policy encourages the students by sponsoring their trips for SIFE organized competitions. SIFE-UAM Team has successfully executed several world class SIFE projects which has imparted and created economic opportunities for hundreds of people within Benue State. All these projects individually meet the SIFE assessment criteria and have earned the University many awards. (b) Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria (www.aes_nig.edu ).

Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES) is an initiative of the Organized Private Sector (with members drawn from Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Institute of Directors (IoD), Nigeria, Chambers of Commerce, Nigerian Society of Engineers, etc) and the Public Sector (the Academia and Public Service). Its main thrust is the development of leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in all fields of endeavor. It is both managerially and motivationally oriented, mobilizing students to be visionary, wealth creators, economically viable, financially independent, and above all, to be mentally and physically healthy to enjoy acquired wealth. The AES Vision: To build world class workers, leaders and entrepreneurs with character, while perfecting the effectiveness of the existing ones as role models. The AES Mission: To offer training and degree awarding programmes for students, workers, leaders and entrepreneurs geared towards creating wealth, eradicating unemployment, mediocrity in the work place. The membership of the Academy which is categorized into three namely; Fellow (F.AES), Member (M.AES), Associate (A.AES) is open to all undergraduates, fresh graduates (NYSC), prospective and practicing entrepreneurs, business leaders, civil servants, bankers, workers in the private and public sectors, managers, traders, civil servants, assistant/deputy directors, and directors in the civil service and government parastatals, and everyone who desires success and has met the criteria for such membership. The benefits to members include: Avenue for networking with other well established and accomplished technocrats, business leaders and government functionaries. Opportunity to contribute to governments budget proposals and periodic budget analysis thereafter. Job opportunities Local & International Access to business opportunities - locally and internationally Sound academic and practical training on entrepreneurship, leadership and career. Exposure of members to financial matters and windows for business finance. Development of spirit of excellence and enterprise in the workplace. Benefit from micro-credit scheme and cooperatives for creation of enterprises amongst our members Free quarterly AES Entrepreneurs magazine and update on various issues on leadership and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and the world over. Educational linkages between members and overseas institutions and business leaders. Opportunities for first hand mentoring by established and renowned entrepreneurs and business leaders. Access to a well equipped research institute for entrepreneurial/leadership studies. 25 | P a g e

Discussion/Rebate at major hotels, airlines and membership clubs nationwide. Use of the acronym A.AES/M.AES/F.AES, after ones name. Free Group Personal Insurance cover against accident, injury or death. Referral to embassies for visas for foreign business trips. Opportunity for nomination for National Productivity Award and other National Awards Status and level upgrade in their organizations. Opportunity to parley with various tiers of government. Opportunity to benefit from National Independence Award to recognize the contribution and accomplishment of our outstanding members.

To encourage students to register with the academy, the University of Agriculture, Makurdi Administration has approved a guaranteed financial incentive of 3,000 NGN per student for any student who wishes to register under AES special package for institutions.

2.4.3

Entrepreneurship and Industrial Research Department

The entrepreneurship and industrial research department will have the following units: Technology Incubation Unit Science, Technology and Engineering Infrastructure Unit Industrial Research Unit Raw Materials and Research Development Unit Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Unit Technology Acquisition and Promotion Unit Biotechnology Development Unit Information Technology Development Unit 2.4.3.1 Technology Incubation Unit The National Technology Incubation Programme (TIP) is a variable institutional mechanism for commercialization of research and development results. It is an integrated support programme designed to assist budding entrepreneurs in the development of new technologybased firms both start-up and fledglings. It seeks to effectively link talent, technology, capital and know-how to leverage entrepreneurial talent in order to accelerate development of new companies and speedy commercialization of R&D and innovation. It also help in value reorientation by creating an environment for changing the attitude towards personal initiative, creativity innovation, risk-taking and entrepreneurship. The policy thrust of the Technology Incubation Programme is to pursue the commercialization of technologies and technical innovations using Technology Incubation as a tool in order to enhance the economic competitiveness of the country and improve the quality of life of its citizens. This Unit will key into the objectives, scope and schemes of the National Technology Incubation Programme. The larger objectives of the Units Technology Incubation Programme would include the following: To impact practical and result oriented training in several industrial trades. Special training programmes will be introduced for rural artisans and weaker sections of the society

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To closely monitor the development of prototypes of machines, equipment and tools which could be passed on to the manufacturing units for commercial production To encourage the production of machines and equipment, partly or fully as per market acceptability. To practically demonstrate research and development results in such critical areas as waste utilization, energy saving, etc. To practically help in ensuring that new ideas/products evolve into fruitful technical/ manufacturing business using the abundantly available raw materials. To help in solving specific process problems for client entrepreneurs by continuously injecting innovation in materials processing. To offer engineering services such as design testing, process/product performance monitoring and improvement as well as training and general consultancy to client entrepreneurs. To liaise with relevant academic departments and centres in the design, development and production of improved tools for use by rural artisans for increasing their productivity and earning capacity. To design tailor made/crash programmes for entrepreneurs and industrialists to keep them abreast with the latest technology. To provide assistance to the private sector in the creation and enhancement of institutional and technical infrastructure so that they can compete in the international market

The scope of the Technology Incubation Programme is to nurture the development and commercialization of: Low technologies - Manufacturing of simple equipment and machineries; Upgrading of traditional technologies; Hand crafts, etc. Medium technologies: Manufacturing of electrical and electronic components and equipment; Chemical processes and manufacture of plastics items; Manufacturing of scientific equipment High technologies: Biotechnology processes and products; Information and communication technology software and hardware; artificial intelligence; Robotics. Emerging technologies: Advanced materials; Nano technologies and Others It is expected that NBTI would establish a Technology Incubation outfit at the University level which will accommodate the following schemes: Pre-Incubation: Pre-incubation are the activities of the entrepreneurs (staff and students) prior to admission into the incubation program. Incubation: (a) Resident Incubation - In this scheme, entrepreneurs are tenants of the technology incubation programme where affordable share facilities such as working spaces, central workshop, equipment and laboratories, offices hands-on management assistance , access to financing, networking, and exposure to critical business and technical support services are provided to enhance the success of the enterprise during the incubation period, which ranges from one to three years. (b) Non-Resident/Virtual Incubation - In this scheme incubation services such as access to resources (knowledge providers, finance, linkages/networking, etc) are extended to entrepreneurs. Post Incubation: Some intervention measures such as mentoring service, linkages/networking to capital and knowledge providers (local and international), etc. to graduates of the program to ensure their sustained competitive growth.

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2.4.3.2 Science, Technology and Engineering Infrastructure Unit This Unit aims at establishing and nurturing an appropriate and dynamic Science, Technology and Engineering infrastructure base for achieving home initiated and home sustained industrialization through the development of relevant processes, capital goods and equipment necessary for job creation, national economic well being and progress. The Unit will function specifically in the area of capital goods research, production, and reverse engineering with respect to the following six broad areas: Engineering materials (notably irons, steels, non-ferrous metal and alloys, plastics, glass, ceramics, polymer electronics and nanotechnology); industrial and analytic chemical materials including industrial gases; Scientific equipment and components for education, research and industry; including measuring instruments, electronic components, communication equipment and computers; Engineering accessories (mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and electronic); Power equipment (generation, transmission, distribution, prime movers); and Mechanical Engineering tools (power tools, hand tools, cutting tools and machine tools). In most societies, despite the ideology of free enterprise and in the face of competing needs, Governments, nevertheless, play a catalytic role in the nurturing and provision of consistent support for the Science, Technology and Engineering sector aimed at manufacturing, and in Research & Development. This latter is in order to gain National advantage and because of the attendant multiplier effect of such expenditure in the National economy. Science, Technology and Engineering is a necessary and obligatory expenditure in any society desirous of rapid economic growth. For instance, information already exists for the development or acquisition to build infrastructures, alleviate poverty and grow the economy. What is required is the framework for domesticating these and bringing them to usable intellectual products. The target of this Unit would be to domesticate or innovate existing technologies to further advance the quality of products, create new products or find better ways of innovating existing processes or technologies. It is only in this way that the indigenous human and material capacity for rapid industrialization can take place. The Unit is therefore expected to conduct developmental work in the areas of manufacturing and thus coordinate the proliferation of technologies developed either within or outside the University including patents obtained. Technologies so developed in the areas of spares, components and systems engineering are to be transferred to entrepreneurs for the production of goods and services. Nigeria can have the benefit of a rapid technological development by strengthening Engineering Infrastructure Science Infrastructure Technology Business Development The Unit shall regularly embark on the compilation of workshop and laboratory equipment in the University for purpose of sourcing partners for the upgrading of research facilities by either replacing obsolete equipment or refurbishing broken down equipment.

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2.4.3.3 Industrial Research Unit The Unit aims to promote technological activities and industrialization of the national economy through research and development. The primary objective is to assist in accelerating the industrialization of the Nigerian economy through finding industrial utilization for the countrys raw materials and upgrading indigenous production techniques. The long-term expectations of the objective and mandate are: To conserve Nigerias foreign exchange earnings by reducing dependence on foreign goods, through the development of local substitutes from locally available raw materials. To improve the nutritional qualities of Nigerian foods, which are known to be deficient in the essential body-building food properties. To improve the indigenous, traditional techniques of production which are labourintensive, time consuming, energy sapping and unable to cope with the modern market demands. To engage in the design and fabrication of machinery and equipment, development of foundry processes and materials, analyses of metallurgical materials, casting of iron and aluminum, and machining of spare parts. To provide chemical raw materials for industries and to screen local woods for suitability for pulp and paper production. To engage in research and development up to pilot stage, in areas of food science and engineering research, development and fabrication of equipment and machine prototypes. The Unit will also render services within the framework of its technical capability and cooperation with the public. Through these services, it will put its human resources and expertise, as well as its infrastructural facilities, at the disposal of real and prospective industrialists within and outside Nigeria. Thus assisting them in solving their problems concerning raw materials, process know-how, machinery and equipment, etc. The services to be rendered to the public and external corporate organisations are: Sponsored Research - Government agencies and non-government local and international organizations can commission the Unit to carry out research works on their behalf and at their expenses. It is expected that the projects would be generally for the benefit of the public and that the sponsoring organizations would rarely have any private commercial interest in them. The results would therefore be made available, both to the sponsors and any interested persons. Contract Research - Private companies could commission the Unit to carry out research on contract basis, on agreed fees and terms. The fees charged would cover use of equipment, consumables, staff time, overheads and incidental costs. Results would be kept confidential and communicated only to the clients. Analytical Services - The analytical laboratories in the University have a wide range of instruments with a team of analysts constituting an impressive mix of microbiologists, biochemists, food technologists, toxicologists, all of them highly qualified, well trained and experienced. With this combination of good equipment and competent staff, the University, through the Industrial Research Unit of the CEDKT, can handle various analytical problems. The Unit can handle both routine and investigational types of analyses for various clients and purposes from the different sectors of the economy. Typical among the products that can be analyzed are: foods, feeds, water, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), cosmetics, toiletries, fine chemicals, as well as industrial effluents. The areas of coverage include material, chemical, microbiological and toxicological analyses. In addition, the Unit can undertake routine quality control and 29 | P a g e

safety evaluation checks on foods, food products drinks, water, cosmetics, etc, for the purpose of registering such products with NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) and for ascertaining standards and specifications set by SON (Standards Organization of Nigeria). The chemical analyses cover: protein, total sugar, fat, crude fibres, ash, moisture, carbohydrate, trace elements (sodium, calcium and others), calories, vitamins and cholesterol. Microbiological analyses cover: counts of total aerobes, yeasts and moulds, coliforms, etc; detection of Salmonella, Shigella and Staphylococcus and other pathogenic species; plant sanitation analysis; spoilage diagnosis; thermal death time studies; microbiological assay of vitamins and amino acids and consumer complaint investigations. Non-metallic mineral materials analyses would specifically focus on ceramic materials which concerns particle size, porosity, water absorption, tensile strength, compression strength, thermal expansion, loss of ignition, carbon and sulphur contents. Consultancy and Counselling Services - These are services to be rendered to the public by the Unit to assist prospective investors to investigate the economic viability and financial profitability of proposed production ventures. The services, amongst others would include; surveys of markets, ascertainment of raw materials availability, identification of appropriate know-how, and sourcing of machinery and equipment, on behalf of prospective investors. These services would be very helpful to small-scale industrialists who can hardly afford to engage commercial firms for same. Apart from meeting requests for these kinds of services, the Unit would also prepare pre-feasibility reports on its completed projects to encourage businessmen to take up such projects for commercialization. Engineering Services - The Engineering College of the University would render various services to meet the internal needs of research and development work, as well as to industries and the general public. For research and development works, the Unit in collaboration with the College of Engineering would design and fabricate machinery and equipment needed to demonstrate the technical feasibility of completed projects. For the industrialists interested in commercializing its projects, provision of all or some of the machinery and equipment, together with plant installation service will be required, and for others, complementary technical services will be provided. The engineering services to be rendered to the public shall include: Design and fabrication of equipment and machinery Cutting of various types of gears Machining of spare parts Production of cast components of iron and aluminium materials. Glass blowing Refurbishing of sparking plugs Electroplating of metals Metal forming, rolling, cropping and aluminium welding Heat treatment - annealing, normalising, case-hardening, tempering, etc Foundry Casting Technology Transfer Services - The Unit is obliged to put the results of its research and development work at the disposal of interested Nigerians, to enable them exploit such results for better living and economic benefits. Towards this end, it would transfer the process technologies and production know how of its ready for commercialization projects to the public, through scheduled training workshops, technical assistance services, acquisition of machinery and equipment and licensing. The projects for which training workshops may be organized are: Laundry and toilet soap production

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Body and hair pomade production Adhesives from gum arabic and cassava starch Cassava processing into fufu flour, gari, lafun, starch and detoxified cassava starch Beniseed and other seeds oil extraction Electroplating of metals Spark plug refurbishing Edible mushroom cultivation production Bread and confectionery baking (including the use of composite flour &production of soy-snacks) Dry milling of rrains and legumes Instant pounded yam flour production Fruit juice extraction Zobo drink production Industrial Extension Services - These services would entail visits to multinationals, large, medium, and small scale industries for the purpose of seeking to know and proffer solutions to their problems. The visits to the multinationals would however, have a different objective, namely to discuss areas of cooperation and explore possibilities of the Unit carrying out contract research for them. Textile Testing and Quality Control Services - There are facilities in the Department of Home Science and Management for carrying out textile testing and quality control and assessment tests. Such tests would be carried out at the request of local textile firms, most of which cannot afford the cost of setting up these facilities. All types of fibre, yarn and fabric, including carpets shall be tested for various quality parameters, such as yarn length and strength. Quality control tests would be carried out on raw textile materials, intermediate and finished products to include quality assessment of textile/carpet yarns and examination of colour fastness.

2.4.3.4 Raw Materials and Research Development Unit This Unit will execute its mandate by focusing on agricultural and agro allied products, industrial chemical and minerals, and industrial plant and equipment. A decision to invest in resource processing depends on the information of what resources are available. Through this unit, CEDKT would provide valuable information to investors, industrialists and researchers on available raw materials, their locations and reserve estimates, physico-chemical properties and uses within the environment. This will ultimately lead to the establishment of resourcebased industries which provides new job opportunities and contributes to the nation's gross domestic product. The Unit will provide industrial support services and promote new resource-based investments. This will be achieved through survey of resources in the environment and provision of raw materials information to industrialists and investors. Also, the Unit will organize investors forums to sensitize investors on the feasibilities of projects for which there is comparative advantage. In addition, the Unit will promote the establishment of small scale resource based industries based on research findings. This, will be done in collaboration with entrepreneurs, cooperative societies and community based organizations. The Unit will embark on the following activities: Promoting the development of indigenous technology: The Unit will embark on the development of indigenous technology required to exploit and process the nation's abundant agricultural and mineral resources. A "Directory of Raw Materials Producers, 31 | P a g e

Process Equipment and Plant Manufacturers" will be kept to provide market linkages between equipment manufacturers and users and to promote domestic market for locally fabricated equipment and machinery. Building of domestic capacity for engineering designs of process equipment culminating in better efficiency, replicability, and finishing/sophistication of equipment and machinery manufactured locally. Pursuing research efforts for development of industrial products, process technologies and utilization of local raw materials and to encourage the commercialization of such new industrial ventures. Promoting new resource-based investments through joint-venture projects and technical support services by providing for prospective investors, advisory and technical support services which include equipment sourcing and feasibility studies on local resource-based industrial projects. Promoting agro-industrial raw materials production (improved seeds and seedlings) through increased productivity of agricultural raw materials since low capacity utilization of many agro-based industries in Nigeria has been linked to shortage of primary agricultural raw materials. Promote studies on organo-mineral fertilizers as well as organic fertilizers as alternative sources to the more expensive, scarce and non-environmentally-friendly inorganic fertilizers. In addition, the Unit would pursue local development of planters, shellers, decorticators, threshers and chipping and slicing machines. Efforts will also be made in the area of poultry, cattle, fish and other animal products. Serve as a formidable resource Unit by making data available for use in fiscal policy making. The Unit will play advisory roles with respect to policy statements of Government and formulations on industrial raw materials matters. Serving as focal point for local, national and international collaboration on raw materials development Promoting industrial raw materials research innovation and utilization through raw materials local content alternatives in line with the local content bill passed by the national assembly in Nigeria. There is need to identify and recognize organizations and individuals which have made outstanding contributions towards the development and utilization of local raw materials as industrial inputs and use of indigenous technologies to encourage and stimulate such developments by others Constantly creating increased awareness on Nigeria's raw materials, their locations and reserves, their potentials, development and utilization to ensure that their full potentials are exploited adequately for the well-being of the citizens.

2.4.3.5 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Unit Poverty, due to lack of access to income-earning opportunities and lack of capacity to take advantage of the opportunities, is a social malaise that is threatening global prosperity in general and national economic growth and development in particular. A well developed MSMEs sector has proven to be one of the most veritable channels to combat poverty. The establishment of this Unit is therefore justified by the need to trigger the development of MSMEs in a structured and efficient manner through the facilitation of access of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs/investors to all resources required for their development.

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The operating strategy of the Unit shall be a core of lean, competent and highly motivated staff, an ICT driven operation process and partnership that works. The guiding principles shall be Outreach (reaching as many MSMEs as are crucial and imperative to achieve the goal of an MSME led economic growth, industrialization and job creation); Sustainability (deliberatively creating exit and succession strategies, whenever necessary); Impact (commitment to delivering measurable results) and Efficiency (cherishing quality service delivery on one hand, and the MSMEs on the other, in the most cost-efficient manner). The Unit will work as a coordinating and facilitating Unit with the following major goals and programmes: Source, process and disseminate business information: Create and regularly update data bank on MSMEs, raw materials, markets, available local technologies/machinery and prototypes; Policy development - Participate in the formulation, approval and implementation of MSME policy for Nigeria; Conduct impact assessment studies and use same to recommend improvements in policy intervention; Conduct regular stakeholders' fora; Develop business support programmes to provide the following services: Model business planning skills; mentoring professional service such as accounting, financing and book keeping; industrial dynamics and technology assessment; legal and taxation advisory services; demonstration models; general business consultation/clinical services; Capacity building and promotional services: Vertical linkages of MSMEs with large enterprises; Organization of MSMEs into clusters and co-operatives to enhance their productivity and have easier access to factors of production, including finance; Arrangement/facilitation of trade and technological exposition; Provision of market support information system; Encouragement and facilitation of new investments in designated priority areas. Establishment of industrial parks: Provide intellectual support towards facilitating the establishment of Industrial Parks offering capital intensive technologies. Enhance MSMEs access to finance: Liaise with financial institutions to harness and pool resources for utilization by MSMEs; Attract foreign investment and funds for the development of MSMEs; constantly liaise with other institutions for the establishment and operation of an MSME Credit Guarantee Schemes. The Unit shall function as follows: Stimulating and monitoring the development of the MSMEs sector, Initiating and articulating policy ideas for micro, small and medium enterprises growth and development, Promoting and facilitating development programmes, instruments and support services to accelerate the development and modernization of MSME operation. Serving as vanguard for rural industrialization, poverty reduction, job creation and enhance sustainable livelihoods. Linking MSMEs to internal and external sources of finance, appropriate technology, and technical skills as well as to large enterprises. Promoting information and providing access to industrial infrastructure such as layouts, incubators, industrial parks. Working in concert with other institutions in both public and private sectors to create a good enabling environment of businesses in general, and MSME activities in particular The target beneficiaries of these services would include Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, prospective entrepreneurs, MSMEs support institutions, Non-Governmental 33 | P a g e

Organization (NGOs) and Business Membership Organization (BMOs) in the MSME subsector of the economy and The Federal Government (through a functional feedback mechanism). 2.4.3.6 Technology Acquisition and Promotion Unit NOTAP has established an Intellectual Property Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) in University of Agriculture, Makurdi to promote interaction and strengthen the linkage between University/Research Institutions and Industries. Consequently NOTAP advised that the University should appoint a Head of the IPTTO who should be a person of acclaimed research efforts in innovation creation as well as strong links with industry and the market, in order to ensure successful execution of the mandate of IPTTO. The IPTTO is designed to develop a robust intellectual Property Rights portfolio through patenting, copyright, technology licensing; to support the Institution's initiative in developing patent culture. The IPTTO also sets into motion the formal system of incentives and reward that encourages individual researcher to be involved in partnerships. There is need to strengthen the activities of the IPTTO. The Technology Acquisition and Promotion Unit of the CEDKT would therefore render a number of technology related services to industries, entrepreneurs, researchers, inventors and innovators in the areas of technology transfer agreements; intellectual property right promotion; provision of the state of the art technology information; commercialisation of research and development results; research-industry linkage; monitoring, consultancy and extension services; technology advisory services etc. The details on the services to be facilitated include: Technology Transfer Agreements Intellectual Property Right Promotion Patent Information and Documentation Commercialization of R&D/Inventions Research and Industry Linkage Monitoring Consultancy and Extension Services This Unit will facilitate the utilization of Intellectual Property (IP) system in the University; it will enable the University to use IP system as a source of technology information and a source of generating wealth and income. The functions of the Unit, among others, shall include: Sensitizing the university community on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Determining the patentability or copyright ability of Intellectual Property Rights. Evaluating the commercial potential inventions. Assisting with appropriate Intellectual Property protection issues Locating suitable commercial development partners. Developing mechanisms within the University for negotiating, licensing and management of Intellectual Property Rights. Identifying industrial problems solvable through contract research. Processing and drafting of Material Transfer Agreement, Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement, among others. Building up and enhancing the capacity and documentation needed to receive patent disclosures, undertake patent searches, helping with completing applications for patents and copyright and providing such services to the public at a fee. 34 | P a g e

Refining University technologies through standardization of process and products ready for marketing.

The Patent Information and Documentation would involve documentation of a network of information contained in patent documents from various parts of the world, thus enabling the Unit have access to technological information which can be made available free of charge to interested entrepreneurs, industrialists, researchers, patent agents/attorneys and investors for national development. Users will be enabled to have access to the following information: the search report carried out in patent documents and on line data bases; information on equivalent patent documents and on patent literature cited in examination procedure or identified in documentary searches; information on the legal status of published patent applications and granted patents; copies of individual patent documents; and search and examination reports of applications for patents This service would confer the following advantages among others: saves a lot of resources in terms of time, labour and costs; prevents avoidable exercise on unimportant researches; eliminates project repetitions and re-inventing of the wheels; provides linkage opportunities between the University researchers and their counterparts at the national and international levels; provide a summary of inventions, a description of the inventions and how it differs from the prior art, and the claims that defines the scope of the invention. The culture of patenting is abysmally low in Nigeria and seems to be non-existent in the University. This Unit will assist local inventors patent their inventions at the Patent Registry in NOTAP. The Unit will also be positioned to further take advantage of the proposed NOTAPs expansion of its linkages with research communities in Nigeria with a view to creating a platform that would integrate WIPONET services and other IP-based support services to facilitate rendering such services to the public when WIPONET is fully established. The Unit will also have the responsibility of offering technical expertise towards evaluation and registration of technology transfer agreements signed between Universities based entrepreneurs and their foreign technical partners. The objectives of evaluating technology transfer agreements are to ensure that: The terms and conditions contained in the agreements are equitable and fair to contracting parties; Payments involved in the agreements are commensurate with the obligations being rendered by the transferors; Adequate safeguards for effective transfer of know-how to indigenous enterprises are included in the terms and conditions of the agreement; Tie-in-clauses which impede economic gains and innovative capabilities such as obligations to employ personnel, acquire equipment from transferor, non-reciprocal transmission of improvements etc, are expunged; Relevant data are collated for national technology policy formulation; Commercial transactions are in compliance with the goals and aspirations of Nigeria's Technology Policy.

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Monitoring the implementation of technology transfer agreements/contracts would be one of the mandates of the Unit. The fundamental objective of the monitoring exercise is to ensure that there is an efficient and effective adaptation, absorption and diffusion of foreign technologies acquired by University based innovators through collaboration with their technical partners in the execution of industrial projects. The monitoring programme provides the window through which technology gaps and other technical and socio-economic deficiencies in the system could be identified and corrected for rapid industrial development. The monitoring programme also provides the platform for interacting with technology recipients with a view to identifying the problems involved in the implementation of the agreement and also obtain primary data for sustainable technology development planning and policy formulation. Some of the specific objectives of the monitoring programme are to: Ensure that the technology acquired or to be acquired meets the long-term sustainable development objectives of the country and that technology acquisition is made under fair and equitable conditions; Assess the extent to which technology is being transferred and assimilated by Nigerians through adequate implementation of training, research and development programme; Determine the level of self-reliance attained by Nigerian Engineers; Identify the problems inhibiting the absorption of foreign technology and/or technology developments; Assess the rate at which foreign raw materials and components are substituted by local inputs; Determine the factors affecting capacity utilization with a view to recommending appropriate policy measures The monitoring programme will involve two phases namely: pre-monitoring and post monitoring. The pre-monitoring exercise would involve the monitoring of new technology agreements signed for new investment or projects. This is necessary to ensure that the project is on ground and genuine and does not encourage capital flight. The post monitoring exercise would involve the monitoring of agreements submitted for renewal. Monitoring visit shall be made to these companies to ensure that Nigerian personnel in the companies are actually absorbing the technology involved in the industry and that the agreement is being implemented as approved. The modalities of the monitoring programme would involve the following: Distribution of monitoring forms for completion by the selected Companies Tour of Plant/Company Some of the issues that will be raised during monitoring visit usually would include the following: Nature of products Plant capacity utilization Production volume Programmes put in place to ensure gradual import substitution through local sourcing or manufacturing the products Brief description of the technology in use. Local Content Local Value addition: o Local inputs in terms of raw materials, equipment and other components; o Training programme put in place for local adaptation of the imported technology;

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o Research and development activities carried out abroad and/or locally using indigenous institutions or expertise and/or the companies research and development; o Economic performance of recipient companies in terms of net sales, profit, production volume etc; o Extent of implementation of technology agreements in the case of renewal of agreement; o Problems facing the companies in the course of implementation of technology agreements. 2.4.3.7 Biotechnology Development Unit There are entrepreneurial activities surrounding biotechnology in the areas of Agriculture, Bioresources/Environment, Food/Industrial, Medical and Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics. In a move towards effective implementation of these activities, the Unit shall be charged with the following specific mandates: Develop suitable mechanisms and activities to support the emergence of biotechnology enterprises for the commercialisation of biotechnology products; so as to ensure a sustainable food security, job and wealth creation, efficient and cheap healthcare delivery as well as a safe environment. Develop an indigenous critical mass of human resources and infrastructure for biotechnology in the University. Promote the profitable application of biotechnology to governments stewardship such as assurance of high quality health services, food security, environmental protection and safety. Maintain sustainable exploitation of bioresources for our food and agriculture, health care delivery and industrial utilisation. Initiate and follow through on sustainable mechanisms for adequate funding of biotechnology activities in the University through national and international funding agencies. Encourage self-reliance in the development and application of biotechnology-based products and services. Ensure that University community have access to and benefit from safe, ethical and profitable uses of biotechnology-based products and services. Promote sustenance in the development and application of acceptable and profitable technologies through strategic investments in biotechnology research and development to support innovation and economic development. Create awareness, global competitiveness and the export of products of the Universitys biotechnology industry. Establish and maintain profitable national and international collaborative relationships between the University and all other stakeholders and interest groups on matters relating to the prospects of the agricultural biotechnology industry. Make inputs into local legislations, compatible with international regulations, so as to ensure biosafety, in line with social and ethical considerations and to protect intellectual property, industrial; property and farmers rights. The services of the Unit shall evolve a centralised co-ordination of the development biotechnology to ensure unnecessary duplication and wastages as well as attainment of objectives. 37 | P a g e

Research and Development: Facilitating biotechnology research, development and adaptation in partnership with public and private laboratories. Bioresources Development: Elaborating mechanisms for sustainable exploitation of Nigerias rich bioresources. Bioentrepreneurship: Creating bridges between the laboratories and the market place for adoption of biotechnology research and development products. Elaborating new enterprises to enable the University participate in the emerging global bio-economy. Bioinformatics: Using this cutting-edge technology in genomics, proteomics and database development/management. Capacity Building: Ensure that the University keeps pace with modern trends in biotechnology in the training of competent personnel and proper equipment of laboratories. Collaboration and Linkages: To develop appropriate collaborations, networks and linkages at individual scientist(s), institutional, sub-regional and regional levels. Public Awareness/Advocacy: To create functional levels of appreciation of potential benefits of biotechnology to the nations socio-economic well-being.

2.4.3.8 Information Technology Development Unit This Unit is designed to bring the University and its services closer to the people through IT, thus serving as a catalyst for transforming Nigeria into a knowledge-based and IT-driven economy for global competitiveness through a faithful and creative implementation of an IT programme for our students. The mandate would include: Ensuring that the entire university community is empowered with information technologies through the development of a critical mass of IT proficient and globally competitive manpower; Entering into strategic alliance with the private sector as well as international organizations such as the World Bank for the actualization of the IT vision of the University To ensure that Information Technology resources are readily available to promote efficient development of the University. Furthermore, the Internet is a vast cyberspace with no boundary. It is unfriendly and confusing to a lot of people. Despite the hype that it is the Information Superhighway, finding the right information is not always easy. Using popular tools such as search engines and directories does not always work well because of their way of indexing information. Trying to get specific needed information from the search engines is often like drinking from a fire hydrant, you get too many links that seem to point to nowhere. While there are tools being developed to help pinpoint relevant information, Web site users in the University would appreciate the Unit taking the lead to gather and organize the information they need. They would expect the Unit to become a valuable information provider and a resource centre. This Unit will therefore serve as information provider and resource centre.

3.

CONCLUSION

The training of university graduates in Nigeria to be entrepreneurial is the most tenable option out of the unemployment quagmire in Nigeria. To achieve this, all hands must be on deck. Complaining about unemployment problem and the fact that the government is not 38 | P a g e

doing its duty will not put food on ones table. We have to take our destiny in our own hands. We should remember that as years go by, more graduates are produced and the more the problem of unemployment, unless something is done. Now is the time. Borrowing from the words of Dr. Nelson Mandela in a speech Make Poverty History delivered in Trafalgar square in London in February, 2005: If not now - then when? If not us - then who?

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CEDKT Advisory Board

Administration and Human Resources

CEDKT Director

CEDKT Secretary/Legal Adviser

CEDKT Deputy Director

Entrepreneurial Curriculum Development and Implementation Department

Entrepreneurship Counselling Unit Entrepreneurial Programme Services Department

College/Departmental Entrepreneurship Courses Coordinating Unit

Students Entrepreneurial Organizations Unit

Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Unit Entrepreneurship and Industrial Research Department

Training, Conferences, Seminars and Workshops Unit

Grants, Collaborative Research, Linkages and Networking Unit

Entrepreneurship Publications and Extension Unit

Enterprises Management Unit

Technology Incubation Unit

Science, Technology and Engineering Infrastructure Unit

Industrial Research Unit

Raw Materials and Research Development Unit

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Unit

Technology Acquisition and Promotion Unit

Biotechnology Development Unit

Information Technology Development Unit

Figure 1: Proposed Organogram of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Knowledge Transfer (CEDKT)

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