After School Cert, What Next?

ENTREPRENEURSHIP :

THE WAY FORWARDBY

PROFESSOR ALEX IKE IKEMEPROVOST, SINAI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND

ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES GBOKO, BENUE STATE.

Presented at the 46th Graduation and Price Giving Ceremony of

Government Secondary School Gboko, Benue State.

14th July, 2016

Amidst teeming unemployment and worsening economic conditions, dependence on government organ for economic wellbeing is becoming evidently unrealistic. The absorptive capacity of government agencies has been exceeded due to shrinking commitment of government to channel resources to job creation ventures. Robust development programmes are often starved of fund, hence their impact on general employment and youth engagement in particular fall short of the critical threshold required for expansion and even development.

Introduction

A country where the youth is incapacitated has neither prosperity nor posterity. It is philosophically ruined; it is psychologically devastated and it is economically anomalous. This situation aptly describes Nigeria; where the youth is grappling without hope because the chieftains of the economy, despite our wealth of resources, intimidating manpower cohort and viable population statistics ignored the exploitation of nature’s benevolence on us. It seems a curse that we are so blessed. But there is solace for us in the wise Igbo adage: uwaezuoke! This is only a solace not a solution, but in a real situation only solution matters in issues of posterity. This ugly situation, is better illustrated than imagined.

Introduction Cont’d

Confronted with this appalling condition, it has become proper to look inward in order to re-strategize. God has bequeathed Benue State with posterity, which if we cherish, we must endear and guard optimally. More than most other communities of our time and race, we are empowered not only to determine but also assure the destiny of our progenies. Our land is bursting with economic vigour especially in the Agricultural Sector with realization of poor financial returns. We would have been better off if farmers in Benue State realize more than they are getting. Rather than continuously pointing accusing fingers at the leadership, we should assume the leadership of our own community and exemplify with the optimal harnessing of economic potentials.

Introduction Cont’d

If we can innovatively transform the benefit of the conurbation engulfing Benue State and attendant economic opportunities, and preserve same in sustainable youth development programmes, we would have proven good leadership in our own time. Benue State indigenes have served in the civil service and private sectors on high ranking profiles; this we must treasure and sustain. The deteriorating status of our youth is enough challenge for all stakeholders to work together and reverse the negative impact of government neglect and/or misplacement of priorities. We have to build the capacity of our youths for our tomorrow and the tomorrow of our dear traditions, norms, values and community. This can be done smoothly if we synergize; all of us.

Introduction Cont’d

The problem of youth capacity building can be broadly grouped into seven main issues as follows:•Lack of information and tools to access information•Lack of access to training and education; our education paradigm (deficient in entrepreneurial content) is not sufficient to meet/ capacitate us on our aim of involving youth in sustainable development•Lack of information sharing mechanisms, infrastructures and technologies•Lack of sustainable youth livelihood/employment•Existing Capacity Building programmes are not linked with concrete implementation of programmes and projects.•Lack of technology transfer to facilitate capacity building of youth in sustainable development

Introduction Cont’d

•Lack of necessary operational and administrative skills on youth organizing, sustainable development planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.These can be appropriately tackled by two well established principles of an effective capacity building for youth namely:•It should be done alongside concrete community-level implementation of doable sustainable development work.•It should redefine formal education and perhaps informal education capable of promoting sustainable development principles. The acquisition of desirable attributes needed for sustainable enterprises are of utmost importance. This will definitely boost our industries in areas of automobile repairs and body work, weaving of cloths, farming, furniture making to mention only a few….

Introduction Cont’d

WHAT IS REQUIRED?

•ENTREPRENEURSHIP

WHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

This is because, Entrepreneurship Education is seen as a veritable tool for enhancing economic growth and national developmentDuring the immigration recruitment under Jonathans Administration, 4000 spaces were advertised, but 800,000 applicants appliedThe recent police recruitment, 10,000 spaces advertised but 1,000,000 applicants appliedThe current recruitment of 500,000 teachers 400,000 applied within 36 hours of opening the website.

The Need to Embrace Entrepreneurship

• The world harbors about 10 billion people, yet, the wealth of the 60 richest people on earth is greater than the combined wealth of half of the worlds population

• Unsurprisingly, these 60 wealthiest individuals are Entrepreneurs

• Dangote is currently the richest black man valued at $30 billion

• Considering the following statistics, it is quite apparent that we need to embrace entrepreneurship.

WHO IS AN ENTREPRENEUR

• An Entrepreneur is one who has the ability to turn ideas into action.

• An Entrepreneur identifies needs and generates ideas on how to proactively satisfy these needs at a profit…….

• Entrepreneurship is all about engaging one in such a way that there will be a total revolution of what the person is thinking or doing

Characteristics of an Entrepreneur

• Boldness• Persistence• Confidence• Foresight• Sacrifice• Integrity• Risk-taker

Entrepreneurial Skills

• Entrepreneurship will equip you with Entrepreneurial/Employability skills. Most graduates lack the requisite skills for 21st Century labour market. You will be equipped with:

Communication skills to instill confidence in you Problem solving skills: To always proffer solutions in your place of

work or any place you may find yourself Decision making skills

Entrepreneurial Skills Cont’d

Marketing and saleable skillManagerial skillSelf-efficacy skill: knowing oneself, limits,

interests, getting to be useful to oneself and others

Self confidence, independence, optimism, leadership skills, commitment, flexibility, initiative, achievement of intention, motivation, ICT compliant, business idea, risk taking, reliable, integrity, ability to make business plan, ability to assess self etc.

WELCOME TO SINAI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND

ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES

The multi-skills centre

Our Aim• Our aim is to train participants, so as to enable

them start thinking differently• Develop participants, to discover their values

and talents• Equip participants with word class managerial

capacity through core values and best practices, wherever they find themselves, in the banking sector, as classroom teachers, as managers in organizations, as principals in schools, etc. They should exhibit extraordinary qualities and fit into the system.

Our Aim Cont’d

• To produce Strategists• A Strategist is :

An Opportunist Risk Taker Problem Solver An Innovator Persistent Change-oriented, etc

Strategists do not follow the crowd……• Expose you to various ways of accessing grants

THE WAY FORWARD• Entrepreneurship is a critical factor of production that

harnesses knowledge including technical progress for use in production.

• Entrepreneurship education is learning directed towards developing in people those skills, competencies, understanding and attributes which equip them to be innovative and to identify, create, initiate and successfully start and manage personal or community business, seeking for opportunities to change society for the better while working for themselves or organization.

SKILLS TO LEARN

1. Social skills• We have to strive to be stable to enable us

think divergently.• We would be willing to learn to cooperate

and develop friendship to work in small groups.

• Praise and celebrate other people’s progress.

• Resolve conflicts without aggression.

Skills to Learn Cont’d2. SELF ESTEEM• Confidence• Sincerity• Honesty3. LIFE SKILLS• Confidence• Organization• Taking initiative• Self control• Persistence• Time and financial

management

4. CREATIVITY SKILL• Problem-solving• Developing unique ideas• Thinking diligently and

seeking different solutions/interpretation

• Ability to process information

• Turning challenges of life into fruitful and beneficial outcome

• Risk taking, high or order thinking

Skills to Learn Cont’d5. VOCATIONAL SKILLS

I want to suggest areas that prospective entrepreneurs should focus attention on: these are only suggestions which could be improved upon.

• Services• Agricultural production• Bakery, food and catering• Fashion and designing• Cosmetology

• Computer operations, repairs/maintenance and networking

• Printing and publishing• Creative arts and design• Media and communication• Interior and exterior

decoration• Aluminum (window and

door fabrication)• Agro allied ventures• NGO’s• …..and many more

The Benefits of Entrepreneurship

GENERAL BENEFITS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

• These include:• Understanding the essential steps in business start-up.• Enhance awareness of career and entrepreneurial option.• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility of

ideas. • Understanding basic financial concepts. • Increased awareness of social responsibility and entrepreneurs'

contributions to society. Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level.

Continuation of BenefitsFor students, the following positive outcomes are possible:

• Increased sense of "locus of control."• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills.• Improve school attendance.• Higher academic achievements.• Application of enhanced creativity skills in business situations.• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills.• Ability to handle business situations ethically.• Use problem-solving skills effectively.

Continuation of BenefitsFor adults, Entrepreneurship Education has the following benefits:• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes.• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal

responsibility. • Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access to other

resources and services. • Improved problem-identification and solving skills for business

operations issue. • Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal capabilities. • Enhanced reliance on team work as focus to solve realistic and

complicated problems.

SPECIFIC BENEFITS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of earning a living.• Improved business start-up planning and management.• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals.• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain

business longevity.• Demonstrate effective financial management and application of

basic accounting principles.• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure.• The entrepreneurial process "bridges" learning and earning in a

very unique way, changing societies for the better.

CONCLUSION

• This is the time we must all come together to outlaw poverty, create wealth and employment. We must have special places in our hearts for the empowerment of our youths, the leaders of tomorrow. We must become agents of change. We must like social entrepreneurs approach our social problems with entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. Rather than leaving societal needs to government, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution and persuading the entire society to take new leaps; we must not only strive to create business, but also strive to create positive change.

Mile Stones

Thank You for Listening