Category: Campus Life

The entrepreneurial spirit is fast gaining ground in academic institutions globally, with more students than ever before actualising their innovative ideas into prosperous business ventures. Anosike Alexandar and Deborah Agunbiade capture stories of some of such students in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State and The Polytechnic, Aran Orin, Kwara State.

Across the world, universities are becoming hotbeds for entrepreneurship, blending academic training with real-world innovation. In Nigeria, more institutions are embracing this shift, using entrepreneurship training, role models, and incubators to prepare students for life beyond a nine-to-five jobs. Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State and The Polytechnic, Aran Orin, Kwara State are among the leaders, cultivating an environment where students are as likely to launch a business as they are to ace their exams.

For Ukwuije Nancy, running her own business was always a dream. She turned it into reality in her first year by investing half her allowance in bead-making materials and selling door-to-door in hostels. Small sales became pop-up events, chapel adverts, and eventually, her first million-naira milestone.

“It was self-emancipation,” she said with a smile. Balancing classes with customer demands is no small feat. Nancy manages it through intentional time management and a deep reliance on faith, often reading and praying at night for strength. Covenant University itself has been a fertile ground for their growth. Nancy calls it her “initial market,” a safe space to test her craft. Her first pop-up event on campus, coupled with chapel advertising, was her business’s turning point. Nancy has learned to treat each customer interaction as a lesson. “Obstacles are stepping stones,” she said.

The mistakes she has made, and challenges faced become part of a unique curriculum that moulds her into a resilient entrepreneur.

Another such student is Kalu Salome, whose journey began with purpose rather than profit. Her brand, Abba’s Daughter’s Wares, was born out of a desire to promote modest fashion without sacrificing style. Covenant’s Entrepreneurship Development Studies (EDS) programme helped her turn that vision into a business plan.

Timing was her strategy — she launched at the start of the semester to market before assignments piled up. As orders grew, she opened a Telegram store and hired younger students to handle sales. “It was about working smart so I could still focus on my studies,” she explains.

Becky Lasore arrived on campus aiming for a career in business management. But Covenant rekindled her entrepreneurial spirit. She invested N13,000 in her first jewelry stock, overcoming shyness to promote her products boldly. “Nobody will know what you do unless you talk about it,” she said.

She now dreams of reshaping the jewelry market with modern, high-quality designs — but remains pragmatic. “When my business was draining me, I stepped back, re-strategised, and continued. My priority is still my academics.” On graduation, she hopes to change the jewelry landscape with contemporary designs.

The journey, however, hasn’t been without hard lessons. Their stories of perseverance, innovation, and success serve as beacons for aspiring entrepreneurs who dare to dream beyond the confines of conventional career paths.

Not everyone has launched yet. Oyebowale Daniel is still in the planning phase but has already mastered one of entrepreneurship’s hardest lessons — time management. “You have to be intentional with your time, prioritise, and structure your day,” he said. He also offers a warning: “Not every promising idea is a good business. Cash flow management is critical.”

Looking ahead, all three see room for the university to deepen its entrepreneurial support. More mentorship programmes, access to funding, structured entrepreneurship hubs, and partnerships with real-world businesses could help student ventures grow faster.

Combining academics with business not a piece of cake

For Inioluwa Ologbenla, an ND1 student of Business Administrative at Aran Orin Polytechnic, Kwara State, combining entrepreneurship with studies is tough; nevertheless she has managed to juggle it alongside her budding nail technician skill on campus.

“Running a business as a student means you have to be adept at meeting up with school curriculum and also attending to the need of your customers. It’s a kind of tussle, I must say.”  She, however, stated that time management has helped her a lot in combining both. She narrated how she once had a class by 8am and also had a request to meet with a customer at the same time. “I had to plead with the customer to meet with her earlier, which she graciously agreed to,” she said.

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She spoke further about how friends were beginning to label her a workaholic due to her ever busy schedule. She also confessed that most times, she feels stressed and distracted by work, which sometimes negatively impacts her academics.

She however expressed gratitude to God for the fortitude and for the advice and support from her parents and friends. Despite all odds, she said she is still able to keep up and maintain good academic results.

One other thing she is able to combat and which has worked well for her is procrastination, she said. This, alongside tips from experienced elderly people, has helped her juggle both her academics and business together well.

Anuoluwapo Celestine Olayinka, a student of Science Laboratory Technology, also of The Polytechnic, Aran Orin, combines her academics with her hairstyling and makeover artiste business. Like Inioluwa, Anuoluwapo stated that one of her biggest challenges is time management. Most times, she says balancing academics with business is a kind of tussle and one that needs initiative and experience – two things that needs to be handled with patience and commitment into God’s hands. She therefore encourages her fellow students to commit all to God, while letting their customers know that they are students. “The pillars of smooth-running businesses are open communication tools,” she said.

She gives glory to God for being her pillar, who has helped her scale through all difficulties, while thanking her parents and friends for their support. She is also grateful for the networking opportunities, which have helped her meet people and learn from her new environment.

Similarly, Adeshewa, a student of Mass Communication also narrated her experience combining her business life with academics, saying it has not being easy. Adesewa deals in cosmetics and male and female wears, which requires her to spend a lot of time attending to customers’ needs, while also creating time for her academic life. She also stated that open communication with customers has been her pivotal tool.

Above all, she said: “For both work and academic and in all that you do, entrust God first to lead your part and never relent in your commitment and dedication.

She also gives lots of credit to her family, friends and mentor, whose support have helped her in no small measures in her journey thus far.