The management of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has concluded its COE start-up idea pitching challenge 2023. The pitching challenge is organized by the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship at SUN to help students become innovative and solution-driven in collaboration with the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
Three idea pitches were selected as toppers after an intense competition that kicked off in the last quarter of December 2023. Several business ideas were thoroughly scrutinized until the nine selected ones participated in the last leg of the competition.
After presentations by the students, the invited judges who joined the grand finale online and in person, Prenatal Pal was selected for the first position by Adnan Tukur Muhammad, Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim, Yusuf Muhammad Sale and Hafsat Ali Mukhtar; Artistry by Rukayya Isyaka Lawal came in second; and Techfix Solutions by Abdullahi Abubakar Nagona was selected as the third. The winners were rewarded with N50,000, N30,000, and N20,000, respectively.
In her opening remarks, Aisha Kabir, a final-year student and last year’s pitching challenge victor, explained that opportunities like this are rare and that is why SUN emphasizes skills and value-based education. She thanked the management for providing students with an exceptional forum like the Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship.
The vice-chancellor of SUN, Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V., in his inaugural address, congratulated all the participants. He hailed the faculty who invested energy and time in mentoring the students for the challenge. He then acknowledged the judges for gracing the important occasion.
In their various remarks, Ms. Sicily George, Executive Director of TIE Dubai; Mr. Babangida Muhammad, Call Manager at 9mobile; Mr. Trimisiyu Lawal, lecturer at SUN; Ms. Aisha Tofa, co-founder Start-up Kano; Mr. Khalifa Rabiu, CEO Construcshop; Mr. Jayaram Marthi, an entrepreneur; and Mr. Aminu Yusuf, Branch Manager, Bank of Industry, represented by Aisha Hussain Na’abba, explained that the students showed big potential for becoming big in the future. They advised them to seek mentorship at all times so that they could prosper.
Giving her closing remarks, the dean of the School of Arts Management and Social Sciences (SAMSS), Dr. Sudha Mavuri, appreciated the students and staff have done extremely well by making it this far. She thanked the management of SUN for its immense support for the success of the program.