Mrs Nike Adeyemi, Executive
Director, Fate Foundation, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to
implement the teaching of entrepreneurship education in the nation’s primary
schools to fast track economic growth.
Adeyemi made the appeal on Monday in
Lagos during a panel discussion at the launch of a Minipreneur Book.
Minipreneur is a 40-page lessons and
tasks book that would assist children within theages of five to 12 years to
understand entrepreneurship and business.
The book was written by Mrs Olanrewaju
Oniyitan, the Chief Executive Officer, W-Holistic Business Solution, a Business
Development Service Provider (BDSP) for Bank of Industry (BoI).
Adeyemi said that the teaching of
entrepreneurship education at the primary school level, as contained in the
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN) MSME Policy,
has yet to be fully implemented.
“Most schools do not teach what
should be the centerpiece of a contemporary education which is entrepreneurship
that gives capacity to, not only to start companies, but also to think
creatively and ambitiously.
“Entrepreneurship is not theory that
is being taught in some schools. We need initiatives that will practicalise the
role of an entrepreneur to the pupils.
“This will allow the children’s
creative skill to come to play.
“To cope with the challenges of an
ever changing world, primaryschool is the best place to start and we can break
the curriculum to suit their age and understanding,” she said.
Also, Mrs Yemisi Adedayo, the
Executive Director, Bunmi Adedayo Foundation, said that the Minipreneur Book
would provide a platform for children to pursue their dreams and make
meaningful impact to the society.
According to her, Minipreneur Book
aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal Four of the United Nations, which
seeks to ensure inclusiveand equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opportunities for all.
“We need to remove our societal bias
that treats vocation as inferior and allow it to grow our Gross Domestic
Products (GDP), especially with the challenge of high unemployment rate in the
country,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs Timi Onabolu,
the Founder, Ghettit Edutainment, said that affluent background often hinder
children from taking risks and making mistakes, which were necessary for
cultivating ingenuity.
“If students study entrepreneurship
early, they willbe forced to think outside the box, to fail and to persist.
These experiences will inspire them tobecome creative and innovative,” Onabolu
said.
The author of the book, Mrs
Olanrewaju Oniyitan, said that every child could not be an entrepreneur when he
grows up.
“Children can be inspired to be more
resourceful and enterprising; a skill that is required for success in our new
world.
“Entrepreneurship education benefits
students from all socioeconomic background, because it teaches kids to
thinkoutside the box and nurtures unconventional talents and skills,” she said.
Oniyitan said that entrepreneurship
would create opportunity, ensures social justice, instills confidence and
stimulates the economy.
Tags
Business