Sahara Group and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), have held discussions geared towards accelerating the establishment of Sahara’s School of Innovation and Extrapreneurship.
Authorities of the University of Lagos led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, met with the Sahara’s team, which included Director Governance and Sustainability, Ejiro Gray, over the weekend, according to a statement by the Sahara Group.
The meeting comes in the wake of a budding mutual relationship aimed at promoting solutions that will birth sustainable energy for the future through the “Sahara School of Innovation and Extrapraneurship” project. The project was unveiled with a sod-turning ceremony in the University in October 2022.
Gray was quoted as saying that the energy conglomerate is keen to ensure the project is concluded within agreed timelines, and would inspire future generations of innovators by providing business incubation, as well as growth and accelerator support required to fully explore their latent creativity and innovative potential.
She said: “It is another way to reinforce Sahara’s commitment to give back always. This project also serves as Sahara Group’s contributions towards building a formidable legacy for sustainable development.
“We are confident that working with the University of Lagos, a foremost institution of global repute will deliver sustainable value for the benefit of Africa and the world at large.”
…the project will inspire future generations of innovators by providing business incubation as well as growth and accelerator support required to fully explore their latent creativity and innovative potential.
Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma, said the project would serve as a template for driving Sahara’s strategy for delivering sustainable energy solutions across Africa.
He said the project is expected to be executed within two years, with clear sustainability indices in terms of seamless maintenance, inclusiveness, transparency, relevance and scalability of modules/inventions, access to strategic/financial advisory and collaboration for regional and global impact.
The parties also discussed the Sahara Scholar Award, aimed at “energising excellence” through rewards to university students with outstanding performance in selected disciplines, which will commence from the University of Lagos as a pilot scheme and progressively expand in scope across Africa.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor expressed satisfaction with the project proposed by Sahara Group and commended the company for the “brilliant project”, adding that it resonates with her vision of instituting a future-ready strategy in UNILAG.
She said the 25-year Strategic Master Plan of the University supports the drive towards encouraging entrepreneurial skill acquisition programme among students.
She noted that in accordance with the vision of the Entrepreneurial Centre established in 2013, the University remained committed to similar partnerships that will help students develop new businesses, market-ready ideas and inventions.
Similarly, the Director of Entrepreneurial Studies & Development Centre, Professor Sunday Adebisi, who was also present at the meeting, highlighted other areas in the institution that could support the project.
