By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Foremost Institute of Master Industrial Management Entrepreneurship (IMIME), has commemorated the 2022 World Entrepreneurs Day with the setting up of three Colleges of Entrepreneurship and the initiation of a multipurpose Cooperative Society for Certified Industrial Management Entrepreneurs (CIME) members.
The three Colleges unveiled for the Institute at the event held on Friday, 19 August 2022, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, are Kelebe Entrepreneurship College, Oyo; Ibadan Digital Academy (IDA), Ibadan, and Kingstar Techsupport Vocational College (KTVC).
The Institute also used the occasion to honour dignitaries, scholars, industrialists and distinguished Entrepreneurs including the wife of former Chief of Staff in Oyo State, Mrs . Biodun Saka-Balogun, former Corporate Affairs Manager, Fan Milk Plc, Oyekemi Wilson; Mr Ganiyu Adeola; Dr John Ajiboye; Engr. Kayode Adamolekun; CEO, Ripples Events and Catering Services, Mrs Eunice Olaseeke Adeoye.
Others are Dr Adewale Adesina; CEO, Ibutoks Oil and Gas, Mrs Tokunbo Ademosu, and Chairman, Sugarland Autos, Hotel and Lounge, Barrister Taiwo Lukman Akinola.
The Guest Speaker at the occasion, Prof. Oyedunni Sola Arulogun, called on Nigerians most especially the youths to engage in multiple vocations and skills so as to meet up with the present economic challenges and realities currently faced by the country.
The renowned Professor while stating the significance of entrepreneurs in nation-building with Nigerians joining the rest of the world to mark World Entrepreneurs Day, then thanked the Institute of Master Industrial Management Entrepreneurship (IMIME) for the outreach at this critical time of the economic diversification strategies.
Arulogun who charged the youths to be up and doing at all times maintained that the country is presently in a stage of trending economic collapse and so the need for them to be more proactive is very important.
The President, Institute of Master Industrial Management Entrepreneurship (IMIME), Ambassador (Dr.) Fatai Salahuderen, while welcoming awardees and guests to the red carpet anchored by the queen of the red carpet, Fola Slim, appreciated the collective efforts of all Nigerian entrepreneurs for standing firm with the economy during recessions and economic downturns, noting that without them the economy would not have been where it is today hence the significance of entrepreneurs is not negotiable.
Salahuderen on behalf of the leadership of the Institute, then encouraged new Fellows of the Institute as they become members of the Global Corporate Advisory Council of the Institute, to continue the good entrepreneurial contributions they are known for in the country’s nation-building and economic diversification.
It was further disclosed that some credible dignitaries were carefully selected to become the institute’s Fellows in other to move the Institute into the heart of the industrial sectors of the economy with contemporary entrepreneurship philosophy and to inculcate in the youths not to depend on white-collar jobs as their best opportunity.
Among the benefits of the Fellow Awards include Worldwide Fellowship of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, Corporate Training Ambassador status of the Institute by the awardees to own a college of Entrepreneurship accredited by the Institute, Corporate membership of the Institute’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society for all Certified Industrial Management Entrepreneurs (CIME).
The president disclosed further that the Institute’s professional membership is open to all with WASC/GCE or higher educational backgrounds and is categorized into :
Professional for Technicians, Graduates Professional for Graduates and Associates after an individual has passed through Best Practice Entrepreneurs’ assessment and evaluation requirements set by the council of the Institute. The Institute has put in place for members’ advancement, affiliations and post qualifications progression for postgraduate studies with the tertiary institution’s within and outside Nigeria.
In addition to this position at the Institute, Prof. Arulogun emphasized, “I want to tell our youths in their thousands not to depend on government jobs to make it in life and that is why we have brought eminent Nigerians together to celebrate them to intimate you that hard work pays.
“The mission of the Institute is to promote Entrepreneurship and massively transmit professional Entrepreneurship competencies to all Nigerians at all levels of leadership.”
