BOUESTI SHINES AT ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETITION

In a dazzling display of ingenuity and innovation, the Enactus team of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI) recently clinched third place at the 2024 edition of the Enactus Nigeria National Competition for tertiary institutions.

Their groundbreaking project turned heads and captured hearts, as they creatively transformed banana peels into polish and cow dung into hair relaxers.

Their remarkable achievement was a testament to the adage that necessity is the mother of invention as the team took what others deemed waste and turned it into gold, proving that beauty and utility could be found in the most unexpected places.

The Enactus National Competition is an annual social Entrepreneurship event where students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria showcase their game-changing initiatives that empower communities and drive progress. The fierce competition saw four Universities reaching the final stage in this year’s edition as “finalists”. Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Markurdi (JOSTUM) clinched the first position while the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria placed second. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI) emerged third while Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko trailed BOUESTI in the fourth position.

In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor of BOUESTI, Prof. Olufemi Adeoluwa commended the innovative prowess of the team as the byproducts of nature that are often discarded were repurposed to create products that enhance daily lives. He expressed happiness that the team surpassed its semi-final stage in 2023, standing out for creativity and commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness.

He described the accomplishment as more than a win and a clarion call for other young minds to look beyond the surface and find the hidden potential in the ordinary. He says, “The BOUESTI Enactus team’s success story is one of transformation and triumph, reminding us all that even the most humble beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes”. He emphasized that the University authorities would not relent in promoting entrepreneurial activities to make students job creators after graduation in line with the vision of the University.