Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO),Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye on Wednesday stressed the need for universities to evolve from being centres of knowledge consumption to engines of value creation.
Ezemonye made the remarks during the Igbinedion University Okada Opening ceremony on Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition and Employability Training entitled “The role of Corporate Affairs Commission in Youth Entrepreneurial Development.
According to Ezemonye, the world no longer measures education by the number of graduates it produces, but by the number of problem solvers, job creators and innovators it nurture.
Ezemonye said entrepreneurial thinking should be hinged on creating a bridge between the classroom and the community, between theory and transformation, between potential and performance.
“What exactly is entrepreneurial thinking? It is not just about starting a business. It is about cultivating a way of seeing and responding to the world with curiosity, creativity, and courage . Entrepreneurial thinkers are those who identify problems as opportunities for innovation, see scarcity as a call for creativity, think critically, and believe that failure is not final but formative.
“In an increasingly dynamic and competitive global landscape, the definition of a well-educated graduate has evolved. It is no longer sufficient to possess a brilliant academic transcript adorned with first-class grades .
“The world now demands, and rightly so, a graduate who is agile, innovative, and equipped with the practical competencies to solve real-world problems. It is this understanding that has birthed and sustained this crucial annual training programme.”Ezemonye said.
The vice chancellor added that the goal of the programme is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application to transform students from academically sound individuals to economically empowered and self-reliant catalysts of change.
Earlier, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition (CESA) of the institution, Dr. Mary Josiah said that the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Programme marks a milestone in the university’s collective effort to equip students irrespective of their core disciplines with the practical skills and innovative mindset required to thrive in today’s competitive world.
“The University’s passion for entrepreneurship development aligns strongly with the National Universities Commission (NUC) directive to integrate entrepreneurial education into tertiary curricula, ensuring that our graduates are not only employable but also capable of creating jobs.” Josiah said.
