Kwara State Entrepreneurship Expo came to a close on Monday with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq empowering fifteen most outstanding business creatives with start-up funds.
Held in commemoration of the 2025 edition of International Students’ Day, the programme was put together by the Office of Special Assistant on Students Affairs, Hon. Wasiu Salami Onidugbe. It was themed “Entrepreneur for Development: Igniting Students as Catalysts for Economic Prosperity.”
Fifteen out of 582 student entrepreneurs, who made it to the final stage after rigorous screening, pitched their business proposals before a panel of judges. Pitches were centered on fashion designs, solar powered system (sunpod), fishery farming, Web hosting service, bakery, ushering, and food delivery services, event management and poultry among other businesses.
At the end of the pitch, Zainab Omodolapo Olatumbi, a 500-level student of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, emerged overall winner and was handed N1million cash gift after successfully pitching a beans delivery business.
Waheed Lukman of the University of Ilorin (1st runner-up) received a grant of N800,000.00, while Lawal Atinuke of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, went home with N600,000.00 as a prize for 2nd runner-up.
Other 12 finalists also got consolation prizes of N250,000.00 each to support their businesses.
“Today’s Entrepreneurship Expo is another important step towards the goal of building a Kwara where every young person can succeed, regardless of background,” the Governor said at the grand finale of the Expo.
“It is designed to encourage student-led innovation, promote business creativity, and cultivate an entrepreneurial culture that aligns with the economic vision of our state”.
AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Commissioner of Education and Human Capital Development Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the application by over 580 students for the Entrepreneurship Expo clearly demonstrates the creativity, passion, and enterprising spirit of Kwara students.
He said the International Students’ Day is not just for a mere celebration but a reminder of the courage, potential, and resilience of students around the world.
“Here in Kwara, we mark this day by investing in what truly matters: the minds and future of our students,” he said.
“Over the past six years, our administration has taken deliberate steps to reposition education and youth development as pillars of our growth strategy.
“This is evident in the massive infrastructural renewal in schools, merit-based recruitment of teachers, bursaries, scholarships, student safety interventions, and digital literacy programmes.”
The Governor commended Hon. Onidugbe for the event and the students for active participation throughout the exercise.
At the event were the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi represented by Hon. Seun Oguniyi, other top government officials, youths, students and their union leaders.
Danladi said entrepreneurship is no longer an option but an essential requirement to attain the greater heights in life, commending the youth friendly policies of Governor AbdulRazaq on the state.
Onidugbe, for his part, said the Entrepreneurship Expo was designed to identify, support, and scale the innovative ideas of students, who are already running businesses.
He said the event reflects the shared vision of Governor AbdulRazaq and the priority his administration accords youth empowerment, innovation, and enterprise development.
“Under His Excellency’s leadership, Kwara State has redefined what student development means. It has moved beyond classroom learning to nurturing young minds that can create opportunities, provide solutions, and become employers of labour,” he said.
He urged the competitors to see the gathering as a stepping stone to greater achievements.
Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu said education under AbdulRazaq has taken a new turn in Kwara, because of the priority the government attaches to the sector.
She listed some of the infrastructural projects of the administration across the state tertiary institutions that make the environment conducive for learning, including the provision of classrooms, upgrade of ICT facilities, and renovation of laboratories.
“This government has not only made education a top priority, it has made it a life-changing tool for our youths and for the social and economic growth of our state,” she said.
In his remarks, CEO Lahmad Concept, Ahmed Lawal, who keynoted the session, encouraged
the students to be creative and start business early, adding financial literacy is an important skill to make and keep money.
“Branding is the promise you give your customers about your business and identity. Building a brand is different from building a business. Many students study businesses without understanding the brand. You need to understand the two clearly,” he said.
Responding, the champion, Zainab, who is a beans vendor, said the grant means an ample opportunity for her to make impacts and inspire other students to start something on their own, thanking Governor AbdulRazaq for the support.
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