By Inyali Peter
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu has promised to give scholarship to members of the University of Calabar International Demonstration Secondary School (UCIDSS) Students for the Advancement of GlobalEntrepreneurship (SAGE) team for their outstanding performance in the Craft Category of the recently held SAGE competition in Ukraine.
Prof. Akpagu who said the scholarship will cover the rest of the study period of the SAGE team stated this when the team paid him a courtesy visit to present the items won in the competition.
While applauding the team for making the University proud in such international competition, the VC who was overwhelmed with joy said that the SAGE team have written their name in gold that will forever be remembered.
He encouraged Nigerian youths to be creative by embracing opportunities in entrepreneurship as a tool for national development.
The VC said with the unprecedented feat achieved by the SAGE team the institution has become more conspicuous on the world map, adding that his administration is absolutely committed to encouraging academic excellence especially in the area of entrepreneurship development.
Prof. Akpagu who said the world is living on “start-ups and inventions” urged the UCIDSS SAGE team to get patent right for their invention to guard against piracy.
He said due to the pivotal role of entrepreneurship in economic development, the 212th Senate meeting of the institution deemed it fit to set up an Entrepreneurship Club, adding that it intends to extend it to the secondary school to enable students imbibe the spirit of innovation.
This came as he promised to make a case for sponsorship of the competition by the Federal government, which he said, would be routed through the Federal Ministries of Science and Technology and Education.
In her remarks, Acting Principal of the School, Mrs. Philomena Etta Ekuri thanked the Vice Chancellor for his support and encouragement, which she said, lifted the team’s spirit in the competition.
She also lauded the Vice Chancellor for the confidence reposed in the team, pledging that the team will not allow the success in the get into their head they would not rest on their oars but will do everything humanly possible to sustain the winning streak.
Also speaking, Assistant Coordinator of the UCIDSS SAGE team, Mr. Lindsay John who presented the students before the Vice Chancellor said he is proud to fly the flag of the institution on the global stage even as he commended the Vice Chancellor for believing in the team.
He added that posterity will always remember the VC for his commitment to academic and entrepreneurial development.
Items presented includes laptops, plagues and a welding machine which was gifted to the school by the Small and Medium Scale and Entrepreneurship Development Agencies (SMEDA) in recognition of their commendable feat.
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