EKSU TO HOST NATIONAL DIGITAL, CREATIVE ENTERPRISE HUB — NUC.

EKSU TO HOST NATIONAL DIGITAL, CREATIVE ENTERPRISE HUB — NUC.

...VC hails development as milestone for innovation, entrepreneurship in Nigerian universities.

By Olamide Akinwumi. 

 The National Universities Commission (NUC) has selected Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti as one of the Nigerian universities to host the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Hub — a landmark programme designed to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital skills development in the country’s tertiary institutions.

The announcement was made in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday by the Deputy Registrar and Head of the Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Bode Olofinmuagun.

According to the statement, the shortlisting of EKSU was conveyed in an official letter dated June 17, 2025, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele. The letter was signed by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu.

The iDICE initiative is a Federal Government-backed programme being implemented through the Bank of Industry (BOI), with support from international development partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

The NUC stated that the programme is aimed at fostering job creation by promoting technology-driven and creative ventures, while also equipping Nigerian youths with 21st-century skills in innovation, digital enterprise, and creativity. This will be achieved by establishing digital innovation hubs within selected universities across the country.

NUC described the choice of EKSU as a reflection of the university’s “potential, demonstrated readiness, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to national transformation through innovation and enterprise.”

In his reaction, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Babatola Ayodele, expressed delight at the recognition, noting that the development reaffirmed EKSU’s growing relevance in the comity of Nigerian universities.

He assured that the university is committed to leveraging this opportunity to build a robust platform for talent development and digital innovation, in alignment with global standards.

“This milestone further reinforces our dedication to academic excellence, technological advancement, and the transformation of our students into future-ready innovators and entrepreneurs,” he was quoted as saying.

The iDICE programme is expected to not only reposition participating institutions but also serve as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth across Nigeria by tapping into the potential of its youthful population.