The Grooming Centre (GC) has awarded N20 million in grants to 150 students from 55 tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The initiative, which aims to stimulate research and entrepreneurship, follows a rigorous screening process where 513 proposals were reviewed, with 359 selected based on critical indicators such as thematic relevance, data-driven results, and originality.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Lagos, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, CEO of Grooming Centre, emphasized the importance of innovation and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities. “For me, how do we define entrepreneurship? You learn the skills, become more innovative. You become more inquisitive on how you can translate what you see into action,” he said, encouraging students to develop a mindset that identifies challenges as opportunities for growth.
The grant recipients include 100 undergraduates and 50 postgraduates, with the funds earmarked to motivate research and create future leaders in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation. Dr. Nwabunka expressed hope that the program would inspire other students and institutions to follow suit. “Entrepreneurship is the major thing that we are promoting so that ideas can be translated into valuable services and products,” he added.
To ensure ongoing support for the recipients, Dr. Nwabunka revealed plans to connect them with a mentorship ecosystem, with the Centre for Research in Enterprise and Action in Management (CREM) playing a key role in linking students with industry experts. He also highlighted the Centre’s upcoming university focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and research, aiming to further bridge the gap between academia and the business world.
Guest lecturer, Prof. Adedeji Oyenuga, a professor of criminology at Lagos State University, underscored the importance of entrepreneurship in securing employment for young people, noting that technological tools offer more opportunities today than ever before. “Imagine entrepreneurship to guarantee employment for younger people, and the opportunities are there,” he said, stressing that today’s youth have greater potential than previous generations.
With this initiative, The Grooming Centre is not only investing in the future of young Nigerian scholars but also paving the way for a new era of innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
