By Adeshina Adekunle
Six student entrepreneurs have emerged winners of N250,000 each on Friday 23, October 2026 at the maiden entrepreneurship bootcamp of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
The winners were awarded grants for outstanding business concepts, pitches, product presentation, and packaging.
The bootcamp, held at the institution's 700 seater capacity auditorium , was the second in a two part series of events after the Career Fair organized by Career Service Centre. The programme, sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), was designed to showcase and exhibit students' innovative products.
The beneficiaries, listed in no particular order or hierarchy, are as follows:
Aremu Esther - Specialist in bag making, Department of Marketing
Ajayi Ruth - Fashion designer, Department of Animal Production
Adakole Gideon - Specialist in detergent, toilet wash, and Izal production, Department of Food Science and Technology
Adijah - Specialist in bag making, Department of Business Administration
Ajibola Oluwatimileyin - specialist in lip gloss production , Department of Architecture.
Ofia Abiodun - Baker , Department of Banking and Finance
The beneficiaries shared what they described as their unique winning factors and speak about the transformative impact the grant would have on their businesses.
Aremu Esther from the Marketing Department, a bag making specialist and CEO of Perola Bags, expressed gratitude to God and the conveners for the grant and the opportunity to exhibit.
According to her, "My preparation gave me an edge. Though the notification came quite late, I put in my best in terms of my banner display and business plan proposal, which I presented to the panelists."
"The grant will finance the rental of a more spacious apartment for my business, previously my major challenge," she added.
She recounted that cutting materials had been a major challenge due to limited space, adding that the grant would enable her to secure a more spacious apartment to enhance operational convenience.
Adakole Gideon from the Food Science and Technology Department, CEO of Perfect Wash and a specialist in the production of detergents, toilet wash, and Izal, relayed how he pitched afraid, and least expected to get the grant.
According to him, "I am so excited for the grant. At first, I was nervous while pitching. I did not know I would pull through, but I am indeed grateful for the opportunity."
He further stated, "What I felt gave me an edge is the fact that I did not focus on how to generate revenue while pitching, my intention was how to create job opportunities for myself and other students."
"The grant will be invested in my business. It will help me get more perfectly sealed containers for my products. Usually, they are not properly sealed, but with the grant, I will be able to get a sealing machine," he said.
Ajibola Oluwatimileyin from the Architecture department, CEO of Durabeauty and a specialist in the production of lip gloss, stated that the opportunity would encourage her put forward , working more on branding and expand her business.
According to her , I feel very greatful, now I would be able to expand business wise .I would not have to wait for scholarships before expanding as I have one already at my finger tip.
She said, "The audience really commended my neat packaging coupled with the handmade lip gloss, whose materials I source myself. I feel that gave me an edge to be selected as one of the winners."
The grant would really increase my purchase of more tubes and lip gloss ingredients for more production and wider reach, she said .
In same vein , I usually purchases a dozen of tube , but with the grant I would be able to get over 10 to 12 dozens which means buying in bulk, reduces the stress , more production and reaching more customers.
Timileyin added, " This opportunity is very encouraging for students and I hope such program is organized year in year out, where students get to showcase their craft.
The majority of other students who exhibited at the entrepreneurship bootcamp did so for the very first time, making the event both memorable and impactful.
Gabriel Temiloluwa from the Department of Mass Communication, CEO of Gabok Footwears, disclosed that although he was exhibiting on campus for the first time, he has over six years of experience in the business. He noted that the opportunity serves as a source of encouragement to be more intentional about growing his brand.
Balogun Aminat from the Department of Food Science and Technology, CEO of Mina's Craft and a specialist in the production of crochet wears and bags, stated that with over a year of experience and as a first time exhibitor, the bootcamp provided an opportunity for her brand to gain visibility, considering the number of people who interacted with her products at the venue.
Bankole Samuel from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, a specialist in E-Clothing Measurements , a digital software designed to take body measurements for fashion designers added, "This is a very good concept. Having the opportunity to pitch what I have developed increased my visibility and helped me attract potential customers."
Despite the impactful nature of the program, students still called for more inclusivity, creativity, and a better structured program.
Oreagba Fatimat from the Department of Microbiology requested that the program run for more than a day, considering the number of student entrepreneurs each college produced.
According to her, "The conveners should extend the duration of the program to three days to allow each college to compete at its best. Having over 70 student entrepreneurs from all colleges in a single day is really exhausting and does not give enough time for proper pitching and exhibition."
Odetoye Rofiat from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality added that the organizers should increase the number of students permitted to exhibit, noting that only 40 students were allowed to do so at the event.
Dayo Akinolu , lamented over the breach in the order of pitch presentations, stating that despite registering early, she was denied the opportunity to present early.
Bada Roheemoh from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Management suggested that categorizing each business according to its niche would help in achieving a more structured program going forward.
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