Chrisland University Vice Chancellor Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun has urged Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurship and value creation as practical solutions to unemployment and drivers of sustainable national development.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the Institution's 2026 Sustainability Project and Entrepreneurship Festival and Exhibition held in Abeokuta on Monday, Prof. Arulogun noted that Nigeria's greatest asset remained its youthful population, stressing that young people possess enormous talents and potential that could be harnessed to transform the country's economy.

She disclosed that graduating students would receive entrepreneurship certification in addition to their academic degrees, revealing that the initiative would better prepare them for self employment and wealth creation. According to her, the University's entrepreneurship drive is designed to build resilience in students and empower them to contribute meaningfully to national development without seeking opportunities abroad.

"What informed this initiative is that we need to begin to think differently. Our greatest asset as a country is our young people. They have enormous potential and talents that can be used to drive sustainable development," she explained.

"What we are doing today is our contribution to nation building, to help young people discover their potential, build resilience and understand that they can succeed and make Nigeria great without leaving the shores of the country."

The Vice Chancellor cautioned against reducing entrepreneurship to vocational training, describing it instead as a mindset centred on solving problems and creating value. She stated that possessing technical skills alone was no longer sufficient, arguing that success depended on the ability to meet people's needs through innovation and quality service.

"One of the greatest mistakes people make is to equate entrepreneurship with vocational training. They are different. Entrepreneurship is about a change of mindset. It is not about whether I know how to make beads, wigs or sew clothes. The real question is, what value am I adding? People do not pay for certificates or skills alone, they pay for value," she added.

Earlier, the Director of the General Studies Directorate, Dr Lydia Chineyemba, noted that the exhibition featured student projects in Adire production, agriculture, artificial intelligence literacy, vibe coding and web application development, carpentry, catering, fashion design, photography, cinematography and wig artistry.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development Studies, Dr Obaloluwa Oyewo, described entrepreneurship as a way of thinking rather than merely starting a business, urging students to refine their products, register their businesses, seek mentors, and apply for grants.