Entrepreneurship returns to the forefront of the learning experience at AUN. Last weekend, seven student startups pitched their business plans for the approval of their faculty mentors from the School of Business & Entrepreneurship (SBE). Professor of Entrepreneurship and Chair of the Department of Business Administration & Marketing, Dr. Hassan Yusuf, stated that in this Spring 2022 semester, four startups from among the seven have been selected and will receive $5,000 seed funds provided by the University.
Winners of the Pitching are:
- Stop & Shop (Merchandising)
- HydroCash Limited (Financial Services)
- Alternate World(Virtual Reality Gaming)
- Doodles(Branding Company)
AUN, Africa's Development University, runs a unique Entrepreneurship program that is predominantly hands-on", Professor Hassan further explained.
"This uniqueness is partly defined by our flagship course, ENT 201 (Entrepreneurship Field Experience), which requires students to establish and run commercially viable businesses on campus before graduation. In this course, AUN students are taught entrepreneurial mindset and alertness, and encouraged to think-out-of-the-box to craft business plans that creatively satisfy and resolve real-life needs and problems within the community.”
According to Professor Hassan, this semester, the top four entrepreneurial startups with the most feasible, commercially viable, and realistic business plans emerged as winners of the four $5,000 seed funds.
On Saturday, February 19, 2022, inside the university auditorium, the seven student startups led by their CEOs pitched their business plans for funding. These campus business startups include: Alternate World, Stop & Shop, HydroCash Limited, and Merch & Snack Hut. Others are Samba Recreational Center, Doodles, and Outback Rest & Relaxation.
The formal launching of the businesses has been scheduled for a later date.
The Dean of SBE, Prof. Leo Ukpong, chaired the event and led the panel of judges, which included Dr. Hassan, the Lead Course Instructor, Dr. Mahmoud Mahmoud (Course Instructor, Section II), Dr. Haruna Isa (Course Instructor, Section III), Ms. Aisha Hammani (Business Instructor), Mr. Verse Shom and Ms. Mary Igbazua (both AUN alums).
Mr. Shom, Director, MDYRP-GIZ Project, also represented President Margee Ensign at the event, while the Dean of Students Affairs & VP of Campus Life, Mr. Byron Bullock, graced the occasion to support the students. The Provost, Professor Attahir Yusuf, and the VP of Finance, Mr. Olanrewaji Olanipekun, sent their goodwill messages and well-wishes to the student business leaders.
Reported by Halima Muhammed