Tech CEO Pledges ₦3 Billion to Establish Innovation Hubs at Three Nigerian Universities

Ile-Ife, Nigeria – Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc., has announced a ₦3 billion commitment to establish innovation hubs at three of Nigeria’s leading universities: Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The announcement was made on Monday in the presence of the leadership of the three institutions. According to a statement by Eniolorunda, each university will receive ₦1 billion over the next three years to develop practical training spaces aimed at producing market-ready graduates.

“We are building these hubs as practical training grounds for market-ready students—spaces where students can move beyond theoretical learning and develop the skills, exposure, confidence, and collaborative experience that today’s world increasingly demands,” Eniolorunda said.

The hubs are envisioned as interdisciplinary environments where students can learn modern technology tools, work on real-world projects, collaborate with peers, interact with industry practitioners, and explore entrepreneurship while still in school.

Speaking emotionally about his alma mater, OAU, Eniolorunda recalled a personal promise made during his student days. “I remember looking around campus one day and telling myself that if life ever gave me the opportunity and resources, I would come back and contribute meaningfully to the school and to society at large. Monday felt emotional because it represented the continuation of that promise.”

The CEO noted that the new initiative builds on earlier interventions, including a CAD/CAM laboratory established for OAU’s Mechanical Engineering Department two years ago, as well as a scholarship scheme launched last year in partnership with seven schools, including OAU, ABU Zaria, and UNN, which provided funding, laptops, and mentorship to students.

The Ooni of Ife was present at the event, which Eniolorunda described as a highlight. He noted that seeing some of the scholarship recipients in the audience reinforced the human impact of such efforts.

“Behind every big initiative are real people, real stories, and real futures that can change when access and opportunity meet preparation and ambition,” he said. “I left the campus feeling grateful, reflective, and even more optimistic.”