Entrepreneurial Education Seen as Key to Tackling Graduate Unemployment in Nigeria — Experts
From Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
Experts at the International Conference on Business, Finance and Entrepreneurship have identified entrepreneurial education as a critical solution to Nigeria’s growing graduate unemployment crisis.
The event was organised by the Department of Business Administration, North Eastern University, Gombe, in collaboration with the Certified Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education.
A leading academic from Gombe State University, Professor Babangida M. Musa, said integrating entrepreneurship into tertiary education would equip students with practical skills needed to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He stressed that graduates must shift from waiting for government jobs to creating their own opportunities.
The conference, themed “Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development,” brought together academics, business leaders and students from across and outside Gombe State. Speakers highlighted the need for universities to adopt innovative learning systems that encourage creativity and economic independence.
Presenters including Professor Emmanuel Oki Umoru, Professor Nureddin Oyekola, and Dr. Abubakar Aliyu Dangana noted that entrepreneurship and mentorship have become essential tools for shaping a productive younger generation.
They pointed to fast-growing Asian economies such as China and Indonesia as examples of countries that achieved economic transformation through digital-based entrepreneurial reforms.
The Pro-Chancellor of North Eastern University, Dr. Sani Jauro, said the institution has prioritised entrepreneurship since its inception to produce self-reliant graduates capable of competing in the global labour market.
He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to partnerships that strengthen entrepreneurship training.
Vice Chancellor Professor Yusuf Amuda Yahaya urged students to take advantage of the university’s programmes, saying the goal is not only to award certificates but to groom graduates who can generate income and contribute to community development.
A major highlight of the conference was the formal admission of North Eastern University, Gombe, into the Certified Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education, alongside the presentation of membership certificates to selected individuals in Gombe State.
