UI STUDENT REPRESENTS NIGERIA AT THE START FELLOWSHIP IN SWITZERLAND: A JOURNEY OF VISION, FAITH, AND GLOBAL IMPACT
The University of Ibadan community proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of one of its students, Abayomi Odole, a 400L student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, who recently returned from an exceptional 3.5-month academic and entrepreneurial immersion in Switzerland as part of the prestigious START Fellowship, hosted by the University of St. Gallen.
The START Fellowship is a highly competitive global program designed to equip student entrepreneurs from emerging markets with the tools, network, and mentorship they need to build impactful startups. Through this fellowship, Abayomi had the opportunity to spend a semester at the University of St. Gallen, one of Europe’s leading business schools, engaging with faculty, founders, and thought leaders from around the world.
This incredible journey would not have been possible without the University of Ibadan’s partnership in the START Fellowship program. Abayomi was selected to represent Nigeria thanks to the university’s visionary alignment with global innovation networks.
Abayomi, is the Co-founder of Doorcas Africa, a fast-growing agtech startup tackling livestock mortality through smart disease reporting, data collection, and AI-powered preventive care for farmers. His innovation caught global attention, leading to opportunities to pitch to investors, receive coaching from world-class entrepreneurs, and meet key global health actors such as Prof. Jakob Zinsstag of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
Abayomi’s experience is a testament to the University of Ibadan’s commitment to producing globally competent graduates who combine academic rigor, entrepreneurial spirit, and social consciousness. His story is not just a personal win — it is a call to all UI students to dream bigger, build boldly, and believe in their ability to create global change from right here in Nigeria.
While in Switzerland, he had the extraordinary opportunity to represent both Doorcas Africa and the University of Ibadan on several prestigious global platforms such as the START Summit—Europe’s leading student-run entrepreneurship conference—where he shared insights about the role of Doorcas Africa with innovators and leaders from around the world. Abayomi was also invited to speak at the BeChangeMaker Youth Festival by WorldSkills International and the Youth Festival hosted by UNESCO UNEVOC and also participated in the high-level DECIDE CLUSTER event in Berlin, Germany to further showcase the global relevance of Doorcas African’s mission.
Doorcas Africa’s journey began with a major milestone: winning the Grand Prize at the E-Track Programme hosted by the University Of Cape Town Graduate School Of Business. That endorsement opened the doors to apply for the prestigious START Fellowship at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, where Abayomi was selected for a semester-long academic and entrepreneurial immersion. It has also earned his team multiple recognitions including:
1. The START Fellowship at the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)
2. The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship for Emerging Innovators (BeVisioneers Program)
3. The UCT Graduate School of Business E-Track Programme
4. The World Health Innovation Fellowship at AMTZ, India
5. Selection as a Sigma Squared Fellow—one of the world’s most promising founders.
They have also been featured on Nigeria’s national television and recognized on international stages, proving that young African innovators can lead the future of agriculture and health innovation globally.
As Abayomi looks ahead to scaling Doorcas Africa and collaborating with research institutions across the continent, he remains rooted in the values that the University of Ibadan has instilled: excellence, leadership, and service.
In his appreciation to the University, Abayomi said, "I am deeply grateful to the Vice Chancellor, Professor K. O. Adebowale, for his administrative leadership, and to the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), Professor Sherifat Aboaba, the academic community here at UI — from lecturers to colleagues — has been the wind beneath my wings."
He specially appreciates Professor Ola Davies, the current Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, whose support and encouragement exemplify the spirit of mentorship at the University of Ibadan. Abayomi also expresses heartfelt gratitude to the entire UI community — staff, students, and administrative units — for their unrelenting belief in student excellence.
Beyond academics, Abayomi credits much of his courage to step out and build meaningful solutions to his spiritual foundation. "I am especially thankful to the Disciples Christian Network and Apostle Emmanuel Boluwatife for their teachings on the Word of God and the bold encouragement to act on the ideas God has placed in our hearts," he shared.
Lastly, Abayomi declared that "this experience has opened doors I never imagined, and I will continue to carry the flag of UI with pride — from Nigeria to the world."
