MKU Empowers Student Entrepreneurs with $1,000 Startup Boost

By Amforgod J. Olisa

Muhammad Kamaldeen University (MKU), situated in Ilorin, Kwara State, marked a significant milestone as it matriculated its inaugural batch of 146 students. During the ceremony, the university announced an unprecedented opportunity for its freshmen, offering them the chance to register their own companies with a startup fee exceeding $1,000.

Addressing the attendees, Professor Rasheed Jimoh, the Vice Chancellor, unveiled an innovative course designed to equip students with entrepreneurial skills and foster critical thinking, crucial for thriving in the global gig economy. Highlighting the initiative, he introduced the MKU-GS 112: Initiative Thinking and Idea Creation course, tailored to imbue students with entrepreneurship and innovation skills right from their first semester.

As a tangible outcome of the course, the university pledged to facilitate the registration of startup companies for selected viable ideas generated by student teams through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Moreover, the institution vowed to support these startups to scale through investments, aiming to ensure each company attains a startup valuation exceeding $1,000 even before official registration. To impart this specialized knowledge, the university enlisted the expertise of an international expert.

With 15 academic programs already approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Jimoh assured that MKU would admit another cohort of students for additional new programs by October this year 2024. The matriculation ceremony also served as the occasion for the investiture of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambiri, as the chancellor, and Professor Shuaib Abdulraheem as the pro-chancellor of the university.

Representing Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, the senior adviser/counselor, underscored the significance of MKU’s innovative approach to education. He was joined by dignitaries including Dr. Ghali Alaaya, the non-executive director of NNPCL, Alhaji Bashir Adigun, the special adviser on media, and Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaigoro, the senior special assistant on religion (Islam).

In his address, Chancellor Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambiri encouraged prospective students to seize the unique opportunities offered by MKU. He also paid tribute to the late Sheikh Muhammad Kamaldeen Al-Adabbiy, founder of the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, for his visionary contributions to education, culminating in the establishment of MKU in his honor.