AUST Launches Entrepreneurship Bootcamp And “AUSTInspire”
The activities which would climax with the launch of the AUSTInspire will take place at the AfDB Ultra Modern Laboratory, AUST campus, Abuja.
AUST's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and Incubation program is a response to the need to integrate Entrepreneurship Education (EE) in Higher Education Institutions(HEIs) especially in the fields of science and technology with the aim to increase the employability of graduates through the creation of enterprises.
According to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) planning the event, the Entrepreneurship Education (EE) will equip AUST students with the requisite technical knowledge and skills from value creation while the incubation program would provide them with the platform to receive
support to the AUST students who are determined to develop innovative and viable business ventures with substantial economic value.
The high point of the program will be the "Pitch Contest" (Demo Day) which would afford the startup founders, the opportunity to exhibit, demonstrate and defend their business ideas before participants and a panel of judges after which three winners will be selected based on the
innovativeness, originality and viability of the proposed product or service.
The selected startups will then be admitted into AUSTInspire - AUST's business incubation program - where they would be provided the necessary material and technical resources needed to develop their products/services.
Some of the services that will be offered in AUSTInspire are conducive work space; internet connectivity and computer equipment; trainings (as detailed in the "Incubation Program Design"); support to participate in business fairs and exhibitions; mentorship and Industry linkages to mention but few.
The incubation program shall comprise of four components namely, classroom trainings and experience sharing in “Fireside Chats”, practical/field activities and group support,pitch contest (Demo Day) and the Incubation and acceleration period.
Already, renowned EE experts like, Mimshack Obioha, Olamide Johnson, Kofoworola Oyeleye, Udoudo Nse, Tomi Ayorinde, Uka Eje, Mariama Mamane as well as other authorities in business incubation and management from within and outside Nigeria have been selected to act as facilitators of this epoch-making event.
Meanwhile, the Acting President of AUST, Professor Charles E. Chidume will be the chief host of this event being sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with support from AUST and the Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI), Abuja.