NOUN: Students’ Future Lies in Entrepreneurship Education - Prof. Ekwueme

The Coordinator, South-east Zone Incubation Centre, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof.Loveth Ekwueme, has asserted that the future of every Nigerian student lies in entrepreneurship education.

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To this end, the coordinator stated that NOUN prepares and equips its students with an eye for a post-university life.

Ekweme made this assertion on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, while briefing NOUN News correspondent in her office in Enugu, Enugu State. 

She said there exist a myriad of problems for graduate unemployment, poverty, crime, and lack of adequate entrepreneurship education, either due to economic meltdown or unsustainable development in the country that require urgent attention. 

The coordinator added that in bridging the gap, the Federal Government in 2006 directed higher education institutions in Nigeria to include entrepreneurship education as a compulsory course for all students with effect from the 2007/2008 academic session, which led to the inclusion of entrepreneurship education development in the curriculum of all universities. 

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Ekwueme defined entrepreneurship education as "the type of education designed to change the orientation and attitude of the recipients and the process will equip them with skills and knowledge to enable them start and manage a business. 

"NOUN entrepreneurship through Business Creation & Growth prepares students as entrepreneurs by taking them on entrepreneurship education and mentorship through the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and General Studies (DE&GS) with focus on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards achieving 2030 agenda for sustainable development and beyond." 

The coordinator underscored the importance of entrepreneurship education as it helps students to discover and direct innate abilities for economic viability, improve on their creativity and innovation, direct passion for their new discoveries, relate with other people and the society for peaceful co-existence, among others. 

The Associate Professor of Library & Information Science reiterated that to end the entrepreneurship education process, students take examinations and are given opportunities to present their innovative ideas along with business plans. 

According to her, each student’s idea presentation is expected to synchronize with the 17 SDGs, which are: no poverty, zero hunger, ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages, among others. 

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She said competition is scheduled among the best students from each of the seven incubation centres and the overall winner is given cash award and three years of mentorship by NOUN through the DE&GS.