Invitation to Participate in the Annual National Entrepreneurship Week (ANEW) 2014 at the National Universities Commission

The National Universities Commission in collaboration with key stakeholders is planning to host Universities Annual National Entrepreneurship week (ANEW) — a week-long programme for the promotion of entrepreneurship education in the university system as well as an outreach platform for the projection of entrepreneurship to the larger society. The-Programme will bring together industry practitioners, professional bodies, academics and students to enhance the development of knowledge-based enterprises (social and for profit).

Invitation to Participate in the Annual National Entrepreneurship Week (ANEW) 2014 at the National Universities Commission

The programme is also meant to be a win-win programme for all stakeholders. The students will be encouraged to develop their ideas (through mentoring and coaching) to viable enterprises. The faculty likewise, will interact with industry to select and pursue research topics in areas that pose challenges to national industrial process/ Production and services.

DATE: 17TH — 22ND NOV. 2014
VENUE: NUC SECRETARIAT ABUJA

The planned activities focus on issues that will add value to the national social-economic climate. The following is a resume of the activities of ANEW 2014.

FOR STUDENTS

1. Ideas Contest: This is a platform where students’ teams from various Tertiary Education Institutions select a challenge in their catchment area, analyze the situation and proffer a feasible solution that can become a viable enterprise. During the competition, the panel of judges does not only judge the performance of the students but also point area that needs improvement to aid further development of the idea. It is hoped that some of the ideas that make it to the final competition can be mentored and coached by interested angel investors or financial institutions for enterprise start-up funding.
2. Make your Mark Contest: This is aimed at sharpening the creative problem- solving capability of the student teams. All participants, at a plannery session will be given a challenging problem determined by the panel of judges with ANEW organizers just before the beginning of the session. This is to ensure that no team has advantage over the other through advance knowledge of the challenge. They are then given 48hrs to investigate, analyze and proffer their solutions which would be presented in print and electronic format at the main competition.

In both competitions, the student teams interact with the panel of judges through a Question and Answer (Q&A) slof of not less than seven (7) minutes. This helps the judges determine the contributions made by members of the team in their assignment. The scoring technique takes into account the performance during presentation and Q&A sessions as well as the standard of the written report.

FOR FACULTY

1. Innovation Expo of Institutional Research and Innovation Products, Process or Services: The exhibition will showcase academic intellectual properties that can be commercialized through licensing, Joint venture Company or public placement in the stock Exchange.
2.  Annual Entrepreneurship Colloquium: The theme of this year’s colloquium is ‘‘BuIlding Sustainable IndustryInstitution Partnership”. A prominent academic of international repute will deliver the keynote address. This will be followed by five (5) eminent discussants drawn from industry, academia and professionals from the public/ Private sectors. This platform is aimed at kick- starting an enduring network for the cross fertilization of expertise, experience and know-how between the town and gown.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CLINICS
Seasoned resource persons drawn from the academia, industrial practitioners and professional bodies have been assembled to deliver three (3) streams of workshops, running in parallel. The contents of the clinics have been chosen to suit the following groups:

• New venture star-ups
• Venture growth for existing businesses
• Technology venture star-ups for scientists and technologists who have commercially viable research ideas and / or findings.

SOCIAL EVENTS DURING ANEW

• Welcome cocktail and Buffet for Stakeholders
• Partnership Consolidation Diner
• Gala Night and Closing Ceremony

These are designed to provide informal atmosphere for captains of industries, vice chancellors, rectors, provosts, professional guru and special guest to interact and network.

In addition to these, it is expected that some Tertiary Education Institutions, on their special days, will organize buffets for further interaction with prospective partners and special visitors to their pavilion.
It is expected that through these platforms (that constitute ANEW), the establishment of star-up enterprises, some of which will be located in various higher education campuses is a reality. Another expected outcome is the entrenchment of entrepreneurial culture in our universities as students gain hands-on experience through exposure to the on-campus enterprises.

The purpose of this advertorial is to formally invite all Nigerian Tertiary Education Institutions (Public and Private) to actively participate in all events. By this notice, every participating institution is invited to forward its project topic of not more than 350 words Abstract indicating a particular environmental challenge in its immediate environment, town or state and identify the strategies for tackling it,

Closing Date:
16th September 2014

Every university is directed and encouraged to submit its expression of interests as detailed in paragraphs one (1) and two (2) to the Director, Department of student support Services not later than the closing date.