Hon’ble Governor of UP Smt. Anandiben Patel Graced 21st Convocation of EDII as The Chief Guest

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, a pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship education in the country, recently hosted its 21st Convocation and conferred diploma and fellow on a total of 147 students, including 139 post graduate diplomas and 8 Fellow in management students, in a grand ceremony at its sprawling campus in Ahmedabad. Honourable Governor of Uttar Pradesh and former Chief Minister of Gujarat Smt. Anandiben Patel graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation Address.  Hon’ble Governor also awarded scholastic medals to graduating students.

Shri Rakesh Sharma, President -EDII and MD & CEO, IDBI Bank Ltd presided over the event. 

Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General - EDII welcomed the honourable Governor and highlighted some of the activities of EDII, undertaken in Gujarat and UP towards strengthening entrepreneurship among the various target groups, including students of universities.  

Smt. Anandiben Patel in her encouraging speech at the convocation, said, “I am glad that we, as a society, have started directing focussed efforts towards placing entrepreneurship on the same pedestal as other career options. Entrepreneurship needs to be promoted as a natural career option and this learning should become a part of education where students imbibe winning traits and values, pretty early in life so that they get oriented towards considering entrepreneurship as a natural career option.”

Adding how the environment today is supportive of entrepreneurship, the Hon’ble Governor said, “The country realises and endorses the importance of an entrepreneur in its growth. There are proactive measures, friendly policies and a supportive overall environment. As Vice-Chancellor of Universities in Lucknow, I am trying to introduce youth to the significance of innovations, entrepreneurship and start-ups, which are the future of the country.” 

Highlighting the institute’s state-of-the-art programmes, the honourable Governor further explained, “EDII’s curriculum and pedagogy are contemporary, and that can well be understood from the fact that 78 per cent of its alumni are into business and have carved a name for themselves. Some of EDII trained entrepreneurs have got awarded on prestigious platforms.”

In his welcome speech, President of EDII and Managing Director & CEO of IDBI Bank Limited Shri Rakesh Sharma emphasised on the efforts of the institute to promote entrepreneurship and said that EDII is boosting entrepreneurship and start-ups across segments and sectors through innovative models and by intermediating creatively among stakeholders such as new age potential entrepreneurs, existing entrepreneurs, incubation centres, venture capitalists and policymakers.

“Today, EDII’s efforts are churning out results nationally and internationally. The Institute is working closely with several important central and state ministries and departments and has a strong presence across states and UTs in the country. The recently set up Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Uzbekistan and Rwanda take the count of such Centres in developing countries to 6. In progress is the work of setting up such centres in Bhutan and four other African countries,” he added.

Mr Sharma also applauded the achievements of the institute’s students and the alumni and added that EDII students have made their mark in areas as diverse as textiles, ceramic, ITES, food processing, logistics, chemicals, hospitality and several other emerging sectors.

Director General of EDII, Dr Sunil Shukla thanked the honourable Governor and other dignitaries and advised the new entrepreneurs to have an understanding of crisis management, preparedness to adopt technology, and an eye to undertake a holistic contingency plan.

“The country needs trained entrepreneurs who are willing to passionately pursue New Enterprise Creation in upcoming areas. It is nice to note how the policies and the environment are supportive today.  The students are at an advantageous place where they can use their knowledge, skills and attitude to make it big as entrepreneurs”, said Dr. Sunil Shukla.

Notably, EDII, a Centre of Excellence, as recognised by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship trains between 80,000 to 1,00,000 entrepreneurs annually across India and leads the world’s largest study in entrepreneurship – the ‘Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’ for its India chapter.