The Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre (EIC), is a collaborative initiative of the Bank of Industry and Lagos Business School (LBS), established to provide extensive training and support to transform emerging entrepreneurs into successful and sustainable impact-driven business leaders, who will create jobs and transform society.
The development programme of the Centre has been designed to provide high-quality entrepreneurship and business management training delivered by the award-winning Lagos Business School faculty, in addition, capacity building opportunities, that will enable participants to improve their skill levels and attain globally acceptable standards of quality and delivery. Apprenticeship and business incubation opportunities will also be provided to ensure that participants get the mentoring support they need to overcome any challenges as they grow. The apprenticeship opportunities would allow them shadow the operations of successful entrepreneurs, and consequently strengthen their management skills. At the final stage of the programme, access to funding opportunities and wider markets will be provided. LBS will also be working with Universities in the six geopolitical zones of the country, to deliver this training.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Governing Council, The Director of the Centre, Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, stated, “A lot has been said about the power of entrepreneurship and its ability to bring about transformational change in the Nigerian economy. With the Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre, LBS will play a key part in creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and SMEs to thrive. The growth and stability of the SMEs will create more jobs and skill acquisition opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming youth population. Our ultimate goal is to create solutions and jobs that transform society. This will ultimately create wealth and contribute to national development and growth.”
A governing council was inaugurated to oversee the operations of the Centre. The members are:
Ms Evelyn Oputu Board Chair
Dr Ezekiel Oseni Deputy Board Chair
Mr Obaro Osah Secretary
Mrs Ireti Daramola Member
Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu-Mohammed Member
Mr Charles Ivenso Member
Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie Member
According to the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan, “Nigerians have an entrepreneurial spirit and creative imagination that must be harnessed for the growth of the economy. The entrepreneurial ecosystem we seek to create through this Centre, will become one of the key drivers of economic growth. We must continuously equip our entrepreneurs with necessary skills, knowledge, and platforms for them to thrive in their various endeavours.” Dr Ezekiel Oseni, the Chief Risk officer of the Bank of Industry, added that “building successful and sustainable businesses for the nation’s socio-economic growth and development has been BOI’s mandate since its inception”.
This training opportunity which will be available across the six geo-political regions of the country is targeted at start-ups, especially youth and women-led businesses, prospective BOI customers and other development institutions.
