The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship and enhancing service delivery through strategic collaboration with the UNIZIK Business School.
This assurance was given by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, during the Quarterly Business Roundtable held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the UNIZIK Business School, Awka.
The roundtable brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on pathways for repositioning Anambra State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University in alignment with shared goals of inclusiveness, innovation, and skills acquisition.
The event, organized by the UNIZIK Business School in collaboration with the Anambra State Government and the Awka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, featured the Deputy Governor as Special Guest of Honour.
In his welcome address, the Director of UNIZIK Business School, Prof. P.V.C Okoye, expressed optimism that the partnership would yield significant gains in research, technical development, and youth empowerment. He noted that the Quarterly Roundtable serves as a convergence point where academia meets industry, allowing theory to be tested against practice in a rapidly evolving global environment.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ike Odumodu, emphasized the need for immediate implementation of pilot projects discussed at the forum. He highlighted the importance of sustaining momentum through actionable follow-ups, pointing to ongoing tech-driven initiatives and entrepreneurship programmes such as Igba Boi (apprenticeship) and “One Youth, Two Skills” as indicators of steady progress in the state.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Osita Ogbu stressed the importance of empowering researchers to provide practical solutions to societal challenges. He underscored that entrepreneurship is practice-driven and urged stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric to tangible action. He further advocated for stronger collaboration between government and academic institutions.
In his address, Dr. Ibezim, who represented the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, commended the organizers and participants for their commitment to development-oriented dialogue. He reiterated that the Governor assumed office with a clear vision for the state’s development and emphasized the need to institutionalize the roundtable as a regular platform for engagement.
Earlier, the event was declared open by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Hilda Osisioma, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie. She expressed confidence that the deliberations would produce impactful outcomes for both the state and the university.
Other dignitaries present included the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor (Office of the Deputy Governor), Dr. Vincent Egbuna; former Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba; and former Commissioner for Industry in Anambra State, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, among other notable personalities.
Source/Vanguard
