An Educationist, Dr. Festus Oluwole Afolabi, has advocated the need for the establishment of Entrepreneurial centres in tertiary institutions across the countryby the three tiers of government, saying the move would help in tackling unemployment problem, and reduce the effect of current economic recession in the nation.
Afolabi, a Chief lecturer in the School of Education, Department of Educational Administration and Planning, Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, gave the suggestion while presenting the 3rd Inaugural lecture organized by the institution in the College on Wednesday April 5, 2017.
Speaking on the concept of Entrepreneurship education, Afolabi using UNESCO’s definition, described it as a form of education, that is made up of all kinds of experiences that give students the ability and vision of how to access, and transform opportunities of different kinds available to them.
He equally stated that their involvement in the programme, would enable them anticipate and respond positively to societal changes.
Emphasizing the important role which education play in national development, Afolabi opined that for it to justify the huge investment allocated to it by government demonstratedthrough the establishment of schemes such asFree Universal Basic Education, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and encouragement given to private individuals to establish private tertiary institutions, there was need for diversification of school curricula through the inclusion of entrepreneurship education in orderto cater for all talents.
He lamented problem of graduate unemployment in the country, and noted that its persistence over the years, has been attributed for high level of poverty and current security challenges as evidenced in the emergence of Boko Haram insurgent in the North-East, oil bunkering and ethnic militancy in the South-South, as well as incessant cases of kidnapping and armed banditry in South-East and South western part of the country respectively.
As way of addressing the problem, the inaugural lecture presenter charged the Federal Ministry of Education, through its supervisory and regulatory bodies, like the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), to introduce reform that would help in integrating entrepreneurial education into curricula of tertiary institutions in the country.
In addition, he also suggested the organisation of regular capacity building for lecturers and instructors that would handle courses relating to entrepreneurship education and provision of adequate funding for establishment of small scale enterprises.
Afolabi also made case for theestablishment of Entrepreneurship Development Centre in the institutions saying when fully operational, it would assist inproviding missing practical workplace skills, and training that will equip graduates to be self-reliant, self-employed and turned to employers of labour after their graduation.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Abuja, Prof. Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu, represented by an official of the Commission, Mr. Chukwuma Ugwuanyi, commended the College for the initiative, and reiterated the resolve of the body to continue to promote excellence that would further boost the fortune of teacher education in the country.
The programme held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium climaxed with the presentation of certificate and plaque to Dr. Oluwole Afolabi by the representative of Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Prof. Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu, Mr. Chukwuma Ugwuanyi.
Important personalities which graced the occasion include the Deputy Provost, Dr. Samuel Akintunde; representative of the College Registrar, Mr. Felix Aderinboye, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede; Bursar, Mr. Ganiyu Abdul and the Acting Librarian, Mr. Akinade Awoyemi.
Others were former Acting Provost of the College, Dr. Femi Olajuyigbe; Deans and Directors, Heads of Departments and Units including Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, Mr. Moses Akinfolarin; representative of the Vice-Chancellor University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Ondo, Prof. Friday Okonofua, Prof. Abimbola Akintade; Public Relations Officer, National Institute For Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Mr. Sola Ebire, friends and families of Dr. Festus Afolabito mention but few.