Cosmopolitan University, on Tuesday, 16th September 2025, hosted a special engagement at its state-of-the-art MakerSpace to integrate fellows of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) into its innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The event was led by Prof. Carl Adams, Vice Chancellor of Cosmopolitan University, and Prof. Rabiu Ibrahim, Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance and CEO of the MakerSpace, an Immersive Innovation Hub at Cosmopolitan University. They jointly outlined the university’s vision for empowering youth and advancing national development goals.

The MakerSpace, established as a hub for creativity, prototyping, and entrepreneurship, is playing a central role in supporting the Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CCSA) at Cosmopolitan University. The CCSA operates under five core mandates: research and innovation, capacity building, policy support, technology adoption, and community outreach. By leveraging the MakerSpace’s facilities and expertise, the CCSA is strengthening its ability to deliver on these mandates while positioning young people at the heart of climate-smart solutions.

Prof. Adams welcomed the fellows, emphasizing Cosmopolitan University’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia, industry, and society.

“This partnership is about unlocking talent and creating pathways for sustainable impact. The Jubilee Fellows bring fresh ideas and energy, and through our MakerSpace they will be able to transform these into tangible solutions for Nigeria’s most pressing challenges,” he said.

Prof. Ibrahim highlighted the role of the MakerSpace in providing hands-on opportunities for innovation.

“Our facilities are designed to nurture problem-solvers and innovators. With the fellows joining us, we are expanding the possibilities for creating technologies and business models that support farmers, improve food security, and address climate change,” he noted.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Bashir, Managing Director of Khalifa Spicy, a leading agro-product export company in Africa, was unveiled as a mentor to the fellows for the next 12 months. He urged them to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset and view themselves as future job creators.

“See yourselves not just as employees but as employers of labour. You will be making money in foreign exchange, and as critical stakeholders, you have a role to play in helping Nigeria achieve food security,” he charged.

The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has deployed about 150 fellows to Cosmopolitan University and its affiliated programs. The initiative is designed to tackle unemployment and skills gaps by providing graduates with opportunities for practical experience, mentorship, and career development.

With this collaboration, Cosmopolitan University MakerSpace is set to become a national model for how higher education institutions can align with global development agendas while equipping young people to shape the future of work and sustainability.