Experts identify strategic entrepreneurial education as key to curb unemployment

The prevalence of unemployment, underemployment, high competition in the labour market and the frustration of job seekers cannot be overemphasised. This, therefore, has created the need for re-orientation of undergraduates from being job seekers to job-creators.

In Nigeria and indeed other parts of the world, youths represent over 70 percent of the population and it has been observed that one of the greatest challenges bedeviling developing countries is the issue of unemployment among the most productive sections of the population.

While the situation may appear to have intensified in recent time, especially in Nigeria, there has been a serious clamour for a workable integration of entrepreneurship education into the curriculum of the nation’s schools to stem the tide of unemployment among youths in the country.

The harsh economic realities in the country today notwithstanding, not a few education watchers are still confident that given the right kind of training, upcoming generations of graduates when given proper orientation and entrepreneurial education can become successful here in Nigeria.

Sunday Owualah, a professor from University of Lagos, said among the traits of any person ready to succeed as an entrepreneur must include hard work, self confidence, goal-oriented; and persistent, committed and demonstration of initiative or tolerance to ambiguity.

Harrison Eket, a practising entrepreneur, speaking on the current issue of unemployment situation in the country, advised on the need for students to learn to employ a good time management technique in their study, and to also hone their business potentials while in school, so that when they graduate, they would be employers of labour rather than job seekers.

He pointed out that it was important for undergraduates to be determined and know the aspect of their study that would help enhance their capabilities, while being smart enough to explore the opportunities of generating income around them.

Eket therefore, added that when incorporated into the educational system, entrepreneurial skills would provide benefits to society, even beyond their application to business activity.

KELECHI EWUZIE