Gov. Ahmed recommends mentorship to boost entrepreneurship acceptability

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed has recommended adequate mentoring and guidance and counseling of students as key to entrepreneurship acceptability amongst youths.

Governor Ahmed stated this during the opening ceremony of KWASU’s Centre for Entrepreneurship’s 3^rd Entrepreneurship Directors’ Conference on Monday, June 16.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Investment, Mr. Yomi Ogunsola, the Governor said most universities in the country lack the where withal to encourage entrepreneurship which had made it difficult for the students to know what to embark on self-employment after graduation.

He said the state government is putting extra efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty in the state through several youths’ empowerment programmes among which is the Quick Win initiative where it is collaborating with KWASU; College of Education, Lafiagi and Kwara State Polytechnic.

Assuring that the government is aware of the challenges KWASU is facing and is committed to addressing them. He said the Securities and Exchange Commission had certified that KWASU is the best of all the projects that the government had invested on because the outcome from the project surpassed the money invested.

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheedNa’Allah, said entrepreneurship is the heart of the nation.

The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by his Research, Industry and Community Development Coordinator, Prof. Funsho Oluleye, said entrepreneurship cannot be overemphasised in the country as it is a very important aspect of development.

Prof. Na’Allah said the conference is an avenue for entrepreneurship directors to brainstorm and find methodologies towards addressing entrepreneurship problems.

Engineer the Chairman, LUBCON Group Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, while presenting a paper titled Producing Tomorrow’s Global Business Leaders Today’ stressed the importance of entrepreneurship in the development of the country.

He noted that the creation of enterprises had been the basis for wealth creation and that if taken seriously, it would tremendously boost the nation’s economy.

According to him, there is need for entrepreneurs to imbibe the habit of investing in other entrepreneurs so that the trend will continue and development will further emerge.

He urged Entrepreneurs to take advantage of modern technologies and opportunities as these could easily usher them into successful commercial enterprises.

The Dean, School of Business and Governance, Dr. Muritala Awodun said the event was conceived in an attempt to help address the challenges of introducing Entrepreneurship Centres in Nigerian higher institutions.

He said the Centre in 2012, spearheaded the commencement of a conference of Directors of Entrepreneurship Centres of Higher Institutions, and since then it had become an annual event.

Dr. Awodun said the Centre would soon commence programmes such as Innovation Camp, Business Plan Competition, Monthly Entrepreneurs Forum and Incubation Centre.

Dr. Essien Akpanuko, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, in his presentation entitled ``Entrepreneurship Education Strategies for Africa’s Development: Redefining the Fundamentals’’, said since entrepreneurial activities required open learning environment, the approach that impacts on growth must be taught to students to prepare them for entrepreneurial activities.