ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

• 70% of Nigerians live on less than $1/day and national unemployment rate is as high as 28%.
  
  
• 45% of Nigerian adults are uneducated. This affects human capacity building and employability.
  
  
• For the educated, the school curriculum does not sufficiently prepare them for entrepreneurship.
  
  
• The reversal of the high unemployment rate hinges on our ability to promote education and entrepreneurship among the youth.
  
  
• As part of its efforts in addressing this challenge, the Foundation will, among other things, explore the following options:
  
  Chike Okoli Center for Entrepreneurial studies
  • The Center aims to promote the development of educational and research programs in entrepreneurship, innovation, design / technology and finance through business education and business incubation
    
    
  • The critical measures include job creation, wealth creation, economic growth and enterprise culture, at the initial stage with emphasis on small and medium scale enterprises
    
    
  • The center will tap into the advantage of the ongoing economic reform efforts,
    
    
  • The foundation seeks to serve as an intermediary (clearing house) between small businesses and banks.
    
    
  • The center will primarily aim at identifying and reaching a critical mass of young aspiring entrepreneurs and providing them with the requisite management tools and facilitating contacts with providers of capital.
  
  Endowment of Chike Okoli Center for Entrepreneurial studies
  • Chike Okoli Foundation is pleased to offer to endow the Chike Okoli Center for Entrepreneurial studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
    
    
  • The choice of NAU draws from our deep appreciation of the unique drive that marked out the University from the rest. This drive ran through the brief but extraordinary life of Chike Okoli.
    
  • The location of the University in one of the vibrant environments noted for entrepreneurship in Nigeria makes it particularly appealing for a center aimed at typifying the great entrepreneurial spirit of Chike Okoli
    
    
  • The center will be jointly managed through a board of trustees of which three members (including the Chairman) will be appointed by the Foundation and the other two members by the University
    
    
  • The program will initially concentrate on one year diploma program on entrepreneurship and would also offer courses to other University students on entrepreneurship
    
    
  • Seminars, forums, conferences on entrepreneurship, acquisition of practical skills will form part of the major content of the program
    
    
  • Guest lectures and personal interactions with successful entrepreneurs will be facilitated by the Center.