Vision
To become a premier university-based entrepreneurship hub recognised globally for raising visionary, ethical, and innovative business leaders who transform economies and communities.
CAMPUS LIFE
Entrepreneurship Development Centre
Fostering self-reliance, an innovative mindset and practical business acumen among students across all academic disciplines.
Background and History
About the Centre
The Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) at Anchor University was established to foster self-reliance, an innovative mindset, and practical business acumen among students across all academic disciplines.
Recognising the imperative of addressing graduate employability and national economic transformation, the Centre bridges theoretical academic learning and practical enterprise development. Through structured curricula, hands-on vocational training, and modern venture incubation, EDC equips every Anchor University graduate to emerge not merely as a job seeker, but as a competent, ethical value creator and employer of labour.
Mission
To empower students with practical entrepreneurial mindsets, technical proficiencies, innovation frameworks, and venture support systems rooted in Christian character, academic excellence, and sustainable enterprise practices.
Objectives
- Inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset, critical thinking, and venture creation skills across the entire student body.
- Provide experiential business training and vocational skills development aligned with industrial demands.
- Facilitate incubation, mentorship, seed funding access, and regulatory support for viable student-led enterprises.
- Forge strategic partnerships with industry leaders, commercial banks, government agencies, and venture ecosystems.
- Foster a thriving campus culture of research commercialisation, digital innovation, and social enterprise.
Core Functions
Curriculum & Vocational Delivery
Coordinating mandatory General Studies entrepreneurship courses (GST/EDP) and technical skill modules.
Incubation & Acceleration
Providing physical co-working spaces, advisory services, and business clinics for early-stage ventures.
Mentorship & Industry Linkage
Connecting aspiring student founders with seasoned business executives and corporate partners.
Competitions & Capital Linkage
Organising pitch competitions and enterprise days, and facilitating access to seed funding and angel networks.
Dr. Emmanuel Ehimen Okoh
Coordinator / Director, Entrepreneurship Development CentreDr. Emmanuel E. Okoh is an experienced scholar-practitioner and business administrator with core competencies in quantitative management techniques, entrepreneurial strategy, and organisational development. Holding a Ph.D. in Business Administration, he brings a wealth of administrative leadership, educational enterprise management, and curriculum design expertise to Anchor University's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Under his leadership, the Centre has scaled experiential learning, industry engagement, and annual campus venture showcases.
Key Personnel & Desk Officers
- Enterprise OfficerAcademic Liaison Officer (Business Incubation & Curriculum)
- Vocational & Practical Training OfficerTechnical Supervisor (Workshops & Vocational Laboratories)
- Mentorship & Industry Relations LiaisonCorporate Partnerships Desk
- Administrative Secretary / Web LiaisonRecords and Digital Operations
Academic & experiential training
Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP Courses)
Compulsory experiential entrepreneurship modules delivered to undergraduate students, covering idea generation, opportunity recognition, business planning, financial literacy, and corporate ethics.
Hands-on Vocational Masterclasses
Practical, terminal-oriented skill acquisition in:
- Videography
- Web Design
- Graphics Design
- Cosmetology
- Photography
- Catering
- Shoemaking
- Bagmaking
- Event Decoration and Management
- Public Speaking
- Fashion Design
Short Courses and Executive Clinics
- Weekend Small Business Accelerator
- Short, targeted workshops for final-year students, alumni, and local community business owners, focusing on cash-flow optimisation, tax compliance, and legal structures.
- Digital Commerce and Growth Marketing Clinic
- High-impact weekend bootcamps on social commerce, performance marketing, and cross-border digital payments.
Workshops and Seminars
- Quarterly Enterprise Seminars
- Guest lectures delivered by prominent entrepreneurs covering market entry barriers, brand equity development, and supply-chain logistics.
- Annual Entrepreneurship Day (EDP Day)
- A university-wide academic and practical showcase bringing together keynote corporate speakers, enterprise exhibitions, and panel discussions.
Vocational training in practice
Students at work in EDC practical sessions and at Entrepreneurship Day.
Student Enterprise Development
The Centre adopts a structured, 4-stage pipeline for developing student-led businesses from ideation to scale.
- Stage 1
Ideation & Feasibility
Guiding students through Design Thinking, Customer Discovery, and Business Model Canvas validation.
- Stage 2
Prototyping & Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Providing laboratory and technical support to build functional prototypes or test preliminary service offerings.
- Stage 3
Formalisation
Assisting student teams with business registration pathways, intellectual property rights awareness, and operational governance.
- Stage 4
Market Testing
Enabling internal campus-market pilots where student ventures test offerings among faculty, staff, and peers in controlled environments.
Business Incubation and Start-up Support
The Anchor University Incubation Space provides an environment designed to accelerate early-stage campus companies.
Co-Working Space
High-speed internet access, flexible work desks, and professional meeting rooms for registered startup teams.
Legal and Regulatory Advisory
Guidance on Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) incorporation, NAFDAC regulatory compliance, and copyright registrations.
Financial Modelling & Bookkeeping Support
Structured templates and student accounting mentors to establish rigorous business accounting practices.
Business Clinics
Drop-in advisory sessions with resident business faculty on legal risk, operations, and pricing models.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Sustainable Campus Solutions Challenge
An initiative encouraging students to build green ventures around waste-to-wealth, smart energy use, and campus circular economy models.
Female Founders Initiative
Dedicated workshops and roundtables equipping female undergraduates with negotiation, scaling, and leadership capabilities in technology and retail.
Anchor Tech-Venture Pipeline
Pairing computer science and engineering students with business administration majors to turn software and hardware projects into commercialised start-ups.
Mentorship Programmes
Executive-in-Residence (EiR) Scheme
Seasoned corporate leaders and proven entrepreneurs spend scheduled sessions on campus offering one-on-one advisory reviews to student startup teams.
Alumni Founder Circle
Successful Anchor University alumni entrepreneurs provide guidance, peer accountability, and early-stage network introductions to current student cohorts.
Structured Matching
Incubated teams are paired with sector-specific mentors (agribusiness, retail, digital media, financial services) for six-month structured cycles.
Industry Partnerships and Collaborations
The Centre actively maintains and expands institutional relationships to expose students to external market realities.
Manufacturing & Real Sector
Ongoing linkages with manufacturing enterprises (including Cedar Diaries Manufacturing Ltd and regional agro-processors) for factory exposure, supply chain understanding, and technical mentorship.
Financial Institutions
Strategic relationships with commercial banks and microfinance institutions to provide financial literacy seminars, merchant payment solutions, and SME banking guidance.
Professional & Regulatory Bodies
Collaborations with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and professional bodies to facilitate certified enterprise training.
Competitions and Pitch Events
Anchor University Annual Pitch Challenge
Flagship venture pitch event where finalists pitch their business models before a panel of venture capitalists, alumni angels, and industry executives.
EDP Exhibition Fair
An interactive showcase held alongside Entrepreneurship Day where student teams exhibit, test-market, and sell manufactured goods and novel solutions.
External Competitions
Coordinated training for students competing in national and global challenges, including the Hult Prize, national innovation hackathons, and corporate foundation challenges.
Funding and Grant Opportunities
Anchor University Enterprise Seed Fund
Internal micro-grants awarded competitively to high-performing student businesses during campus pitch events.
External Grant Readiness Clinic
Continuous scouting and technical proposal assistance for external grant platforms (e.g. the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, Bank of Industry youth enterprise funds, and federal grant opportunities).
Angel & Investor Demo Days
Curated demo sessions connecting graduating, operational student startups with external angel investors and alumni patrons.
Student Businesses and Start-ups
Notable student enterprises
- Campus Harvest FoodsOrganic snack, fruit juice, and confectionery processing venture founded by a multi-disciplinary student team, currently serving on-campus retail outlets.
- Anchor Byte Creative SolutionsStudent-led digital agency delivering UI/UX design, brand identity kits, and basic web architecture to local MSMEs.
- GreenLoop InitiativesCampus-born waste management and upcycling venture focusing on recycled paper art and plastic repurposing.
Events and Activities
Anchor Entrepreneurship Week
Annual celebration filled with innovation symposiums, pitch competitions, and exhibition trade fairs.
Founders' Fireside Chats
Bi-monthly informal evening conversations with emerging startup founders sharing practical challenges and survival strategies.
Vocational Demo Day
End-of-semester practical exhibitions displaying works produced by students enrolled in vocational modules.
Annual University Enterprise Lecture
Distinguished lecture delivered by an industry titan on national macroeconomic trends and private enterprise.
Resources
Downloadable guides and templates
- Standard Business Plan Template (AUL-EDC Format)Structured Microsoft Word / PDF document designed for student startups and academic assessments.
- Business Model Canvas (BMC) GuideStep-by-step explanatory sheet and printable canvas for rapid idea validation.
- Cash Flow & Financial Forecasting SheetPre-formulated spreadsheet tracker for small enterprise revenue, expenses, and breakeven estimation.
Relevant publications
- Guidelines for Campus Enterprise Operation and Trade
- Intellectual Property & Student Venture Commercialisation Handbook
- Annual Anchor University Student Enterprise DigestCompendium of active student businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are entrepreneurship courses mandatory for all students at Anchor University?
Yes. All students participate in approved General Studies entrepreneurship courses and hands-on vocational training designed to equip them with lifelong self-reliance capabilities before graduation.
Can I access incubation space if my business partner is from another faculty?
Absolutely. In fact, the Centre strongly encourages cross-disciplinary teams (e.g. combining computer science, business, and natural sciences).
Does Anchor University take equity in student businesses incubated at the EDC?
The Centre operates primarily as a student developmental accelerator and does not take equity in standard student ventures, except where institutional patents or substantial university capital investments are formally contracted.
How do I apply for seed funding through the Centre?
Seed funding is allocated competitively during our Annual Pitch Challenges, EDP Day exhibitions, and through endorsed external grant applications. Notices are posted under the News & Announcements section.
Contact the Entrepreneurship Development Centre
Office: EDC Complex, Anchor University, Ayobo, Ipaja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Email: edc@aul.edu.ng
Phone: +234 802 338 5969
Helpdesk hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
LinkedIn: @AnchorUnivEDC
Instagram / X: @AULEntrepreneurship