The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced the review of the curriculum for polytechnics nationwide, underlining the significance of entrepreneurship development in addressing Nigeria’s unemployment challenges.
Prof. Idris Bugajem, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, made this disclosure in Abuja during a workshop for academics from polytechnics and other technical institutions across the country.
Bugaje stressed the pivotal role of entrepreneurship in enabling graduates to secure employment or become self-employed. He highlighted that the curriculum for teaching entrepreneurship courses underwent review last year, with efforts focused on enhancing the delivery of these courses.
In his words, Bugaje stated, “The future of Nigerian youths is not in paper qualification but the ability to become worthwhile entrepreneurs.”
He elucidated the distinction between entrepreneurship programs and skills development initiatives, noting that while entrepreneurship education focuses on equipping individuals with the knowledge to start and manage businesses, skills development entails acquiring specific competencies.
Bugaje emphasized, “Entrepreneurship is the key to graduates’ employability so that they can use the skills they acquire to create jobs themselves and employ others rather than become job seekers.”
Echoing Bugaje’s sentiments, Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, highlighted the transformative potential of entrepreneurship and skills development in advancing employment and fostering national growth.
Echono commended the Committee of Rectors for spearheading the curriculum review, emphasizing the need for entrepreneurship education to encompass critical thinking, risk-taking, and value creation.
He emphasized, “Entrepreneurship education goes beyond… engaging in activities that will have additional income. It goes into critical thinking, risk-taking, identification of opportunities using skill sets, resources, and creating values that promote employment.”
Echono concluded by affirming that entrepreneurship education is pivotal in addressing unemployment and propelling national development.
