Igbinedion University VC Calls for Radical Shift to Entrepreneurship to Tackle National Unemployment

At the 13th Student Product Exhibition hosted by Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye PhD, FAS, delivered a compelling call for Nigerian universities to fundamentally transform their role in society—from factories churning out job seekers to incubators of job creators and innovators.

Speaking at the event which held at the Sir (Dr.) David Osunde Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Prof. Ezemonye described the push toward entrepreneurship as far more than rhetoric: "It is a clarion call, a strategic blueprint, and a reflection of the core mission of Igbinedion University," he asserted. With Nigeria facing persistent unemployment and underemployment despite its youthful population full of "energy and intellect," he argued that engineering this transition is now "the most crucial" priority for higher education.

The VC painted a vivid picture of what reformed universities should achieve: "Our classrooms must be the launchpads for innovation, our curricula the moulds for resilient entrepreneurs, and our degrees the charter for economic transformation." He directly challenged students to act boldly: "Move decisively from the classroom to job-creating enterprises," urging them to build ventures that generate not just profit but also "dignity, opportunity, and prosperity for our communities."

Guest speaker Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), reinforced the urgency of reform. He warned that universities risk irrelevance unless they "rejig" their systems to embed skills and entrepreneurship training deeply into curricula. 

The event showcased student innovations and underscored Igbinedion University's ongoing commitment to fostering entrepreneurial culture in Nigerian higher education.