Combining Brain and Beauty, UK-Based FUNAAB Graduate, Bukola Jaiyeola Empowers 50 Youths
By Our Correspondent
Even while she was a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Miss Bukola Jaiyeola who studied Nutrition and Dietetics, had embraced Entrepreneurship as she functionally availed herself of the several opportunities at the University’s Centre For Entrepreneurship Studies (CENTS).
Given the array of skills she learnt while on campus, she had registered a skill acquisition outfit called Next Big Deal Hub.
Her area of specialization is in the area of Event Planning and Decorations and has had opportunity to be trained by the German agency, GIZ, on business development.
Upon graduation from FUNAAB in 2019, and following completion of her national youth service, Miss Jaiyeola proceeded to have her Master’s Degree at Teesside University, United Kingdom where she presently reside after completion.
Last Saturday, September 23rd, 2023, was her day of showing at the grand finale and graduation of a set of 50 youths, mostly students, who had been undergoing training for one month at the FUNAAB Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies (CENTS). Over 120 participants were in attendance in total.
The four weeks of entrepreneurial skills and vocations learnt by the youths included Fashion Designing, Graphics Designing, Shoe Making, Hairdressing, Event Planning and Decorations, Catering, Product Design (UI/UX), Frond End Web Dev, Photography & Videography, and Make Up and Gele.
The graduation ceremony which was held with fanfare was attended by a host of personalities including the Director of CENTS, FUNAAB, Prof(Mrs) E. Ayo John, who urged government at all levels to provide enabling environment for young graduates to venture into vocational training to reduce the level of unemployment among youths as a way of fighting the current wave of insecurity in Nigeria.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Director of FUNAAB CENTS, Professor Egbeyale, Principal Executive Manager, Mr Jide Olaiya, Founder of YFSI, Mr Tayo Akinpelu, Dr. Oshadare Segun Anthony, Dr. (Mrs) O.E Kajihausa, representatives from Prince AdeJohn Initiatives for Development (PAID), Mrs Oyindamola Olabode from Honey Haute Events and Grazac Technologies.
Certificates and awards were presented during the event.
At the end of the programme, a princely amount of N100,000 was presented to the overall winner of business pitch “Olatunji Rebecca Oyindamola” at the training by Miss Bukola Jaiyeola on behalf of her company, Next Big Deal Hub.
The Director of FUNAAB CENTS, Prof (Mrs) E. Ayo John also gave a space in CENTS to the lady to start her business. There was agreement to groom and make sure she starts the cake business. The other two participants that pitched would also be taken up for mentorship.
Miss Jaiyeola, in her address, appreciated FUNAAB for providing the right environment for the training and disclosed that the major reason for the scheme and partnering with Centre for Entrepreneurship studies (FUNAAB CENTS) is primarily to give back to the institution and more importantly to empower youths and other interested individuals based on the current economic realities.
Jaiyeola said with the way the world is going, apart from having a Degree, “one must also have a skill in one vocation or the other so that if the degree is not assisting you to make money into your bank account, you can make use of your skills. So Students don’t need to wait until after NYSC to look for jobs”.
She appreciated all her sponsors and partners, and pledged that the organisation will continue to monitor the beneficiaries to ensure that they put into use what they learnt during the programme.
“We are going to encourage some of them to access funds, like today, one or two people are going to get a start-up grant as a Panel has been set up to look at their Business Plans and assist in whatever forms we can”, she further said.
The Next Big Deal Hub that started in 2017 has been to 12 States of Nigeria to organize similar training sessions for the young ones in different vocations while more of it are to be organized. Her amiable team members urged people that want to become part of members of the organisation to register.
She also mentioned that people can reach her via LinkedIn at Bukola Jaiyeola or Instagram @jaiyeb. Other information to aid that were provided which include:
Email: info@nextbigdealhub.com
Website: www.nextbigdealhub.com
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | LinkedIn: @nextbigdealhub.
Meanwhile, Governments at both Federal and State levels have been advised to provide an enabling environment for young graduates to venture into vocational training to reduce the level of unemployment among youths and fight the insecurity that is ravaging the country
The Director, of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Federal University of Agriculture, FUNAAB, Abeokuta, Prof. (Mrs) E. A Ayo John made the call while speaking with newsmen at a ceremony to celebrate the end of training for participants at a programme organized by “The Next Big Deal” in collaboration with the FUNAAB.
Prof. Mrs. Ayo John said when it comes to finding a job and encouraging emerging professionals to excel in their new career path, making sure that graduates have the skills they need for the position plays an essential role.
She opined that Students who do not have the necessary skills will quickly find themselves struggling to get employed based on the unavailable white-collar jobs.
“She called on Politicians and people in the position to assist the less privileged to consider the training of youths in one vocation or the other to reduce crime in society.
She advised young graduates roaming about the streets looking for white-collar jobs to look inward saying that ‘Nigeria’s economy is diversifying, and there are lots of Entrepreneurial projects going on, there are lots of Institutions and bodies investing into Entrepreneurship, and I will advise that they key into it.
Entrepreneurship is all about identifying a problem in society, it’s about innovation, so rather for them staying idle, they should be innovative and be creative by looking around them to see how they can use their skills to develop society positively.
