The Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada(IUO), Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, on Tuesday, highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship in transforming Nigeria’s economic landscape, emphasizing that it is a collective responsibility.
Prof. Ezemonye made the assertion during the 13th student product exhibition of Igbinedion University Okada held at the Sir Dr. David Osunde Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition.
Speaking at the exhibition, Prof. Ezemonye urged students to shift their mindset from being job seekers to becoming job creators.
He urged that classrooms should be innovation hubs and degrees should represent economic transformation to foster innovation and equip students with the skills to become resilient entrepreneurs, ultimately contributing to economic transformation.
Prof. Ezemonye added that Nigeria’s youthful population possesses the energy and intellect to overcome the challenges of unemployment and underemployment.
He called for a concerted effort to engineer a transition where graduates are empowered to create jobs and drive economic growth.
“Our classrooms must be the launchpad for innovation, our curricula, the molds for resilient entrepreneurs, and our degrees, the character for economic transformation.
“In a nation brimming with youthful energy and intellect, yet challenged by unemployment and underemployment, the transition from being a job seeker to a job creator is perhaps the most critical transition we must engineer. ” Ezemonye said.
Prof. Ezemonye urged the students to learn a skill, master a craft as well as understand the nuances of digital marketing, financial literacy, supply chain management, and customer relationship.
While emphasizing the need to rejig the educational system and transform Nigeria’s economic landscape, Prof. Ezemonye said, “As a university, we pledge to deepen our industry linkages, strengthen our mentorship programmes, and continue to provide the intellectual infrastructure for enterprise.”
