Empowering Youths Through Skills Group Challenges The N500 Start Up

Technical Assistant to Kastina State Governor on Entreprise Development Dr Babangida Ruma, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace Entrepreneurial skill acquisitions as a path to sustainable financial independence.

Dr Babangida Ruma made the call in Abuja. at the second day of the National Workshop on Creating New Model for Dynamic Growth through Entrepreneurial Education, the event organised by Allied Bond Consulting in partnership with PIFS Conferences and Seminars a programme that brought together experts, stakeholders Nigerian youths and various advocates designed to promote entrepreneurship amongst university students.

Dr. Ruma, a qualified lecturer in infgormation Technology and Entrepreneurship while sharing his compelling true life story during the interactive session with the media, gave an encounter how one of his students tranformed her own life through the use of small but strategic initiatives

Dr Ruma Emphasised that , the student while in her first year in school, with no business plan nor capital except her expertise in cooking and her personal interest started a small cooking business theough a WhatsApp group with charges of one thousand naira from each participants on her teaching skills classes made over a million with over one thousand participants

According to Dr. Ruma, the student from that training she gave ,started her business into one of the leading restaurants in Katsina State and till date she is currently working on launching a culinary academy to train others.He emphasized that, the major challenge facing Nigerian youths lack of creativity and exceptional thinking which is the root cause of lack of job .

Though he stated that, there zre no many job opportunities in Nigeria, “But in developed countries like the US, China, or Dubai and other developed countries in the world, , very few people work for the government as the real impact of job opportunities comes from those who were able to think outside the box for innovative and build in the private sector by using g their talents to create Kobo opportunities for others.

Speaking further , Dr. Ruma advised students to leverage on simple tools and platforms like WhatsApp to create income-generating ventures with little or no startup capital stating that , basic skills, are traded as the most valuable assets for young entrepreneurs to generates income for themselves and other.

He said , a little change as low as ₦500 from one thousand five hundred people for a service will generates ₦750,000 enough to start a sustaining busniess in Nigeria of today.

The Chairman of Allied Bond Consulting and the PIFS Conferences and Seminars, Dr. Joe Anyor, in her words , called for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s approach to entrepreneurship education, emphasizing practical training over theoretical knowledge. Dr. Anyor, who also delivered the keynote address at the event, stressed that the time had come to move beyond conventional certificate-based education and embrace skill-based, solution-driven learning.

He said this is not just another workshop where we talk and go back to business as usual,” emphasised that the narratives is here to be changed , . Analysis that the workshop is set to build a new template — one that will empower students to either get meaningful placement or start their own businesses right after graduation.”

According to him, the workshop was designed to equip lecturers and facilitators from various universities with practical entrepreneurial skills they can take back to their institutions, transforming them into trainers of trainers.

Dr. Anyor also shared the philosophy behind his name, using it as a metaphor for the mission of the program:, Reflecting on his years of work in consulting and human capital development, Dr. Anyor highlighted that the most significant achievements are not always quantifiable.

Dr. Anyor  commended the Honourable Minister of Education, who made an unexpected but punctual appearance at the workshop. And alsonthe presence of representatives from the National Universities Commission he stated is a moral booster for him.

Dr. Anyor concluded with a clear message for students and university administrators across the country as he said Universities must move past the era of distributing certificates as all hands must be on devk to stop giving people fish but teach the students how to fish which is the essence of the training..

Dr. Adams Ayoade Tijani, a lecturer and extension specialist at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), has called for a transformation in the way entrepreneurial education is delivered in Nigerian universities.

Speaking at a recent presentation on “Developing Entrepreneurial Educators in Nigeria: The Training, Tools, and Mindset,” Dr. Tijani emphasized the urgent need to reorient the educational system towards problem-solving, innovation, and practical skill acquisition.

He said , Nigerian students , must be trained not just to pass exams, but to identify societal problems within their fields and develop sustainable solutions and in achieving this, educators themselves must first be equipped with the right and relevant skills, tools, and mindset necessary to train students to become job creators rather than job seekers.”

Dr. Tijani lamented the current disconnect between academia and industry, noting that while thousands of graduates are produced annually, many lack the practical skills required in the job market. He stressed that entrepreneurial educators must undergo continuous training to remain effective and relevant.

“Degrees alone are no longer enough. We need to ensure students graduate with industry-relevant competencies. For example, a pharmacy graduate who cannot formulate basic drugs is of little practical value

Challenging the notion that some academic courses are not marketable, Dr. Tijani argued that every field has potential for commercialization if linked to local culture and societal needs. “There’s no such thing as an unmarketable course. Even indigenous knowledge can be turned into viable enterprise opportunities if properly harnessed,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of hands-on experience, Dr. Tijani stressed the need for stronger links between universities and industries. He urged institutions to prioritize practical training over excessive theoretical instruction.

“In Nigeria, practical knowledge is key. Students must be exposed to real-world applications of what they learn in class. Artisans like welders and plumbers often demonstrate more applicable skills than some graduates because they’ve been trained in the field,” he explained.

Dr. Rex Ufomba, Director of Entrepreneurship and Skills Development at Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State, has called for the establishment of sustainable industrial hubs and hands-on entrepreneurial education in Nigerian universities to address the rising challenge of graduate unemployment.

Dr. Ufomba, who also serves as the Chairman of the Association of Directors of Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Nigerian Universities (South-East Zone), made the call on Day 2 of a two-day national workshop held at the Merit House, Maitama, Abuja. The workshop, themed “Creating a New Model for Dynamic Growth through Entrepreneurial Education”, was organized by Allied Bond Consulting in partnership with PIFS Conferences and Seminars.

Speaking to journalists after his presentation, Dr. Ufomba highlighted the unsustainability of many existing industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystems within Nigerian higher institutions.

“Many universities have infrastructure—projects, machines, and buildings—but they lack sustainability. What we are proposing is a model to help higher education institutions develop a sustainable ecosystem that supports industrial hubs,” he explained.

He emphasized that the current educational system focuses heavily on theoretical knowledge, leaving graduates ill-equipped for practical and innovative ventures.

“Unemployability among our graduates is a major challenge. The core issue lies in the fact that students are exposed mostly to theory. Entrepreneurship education should go beyond the classroom—students should be creating ventures even while still in school,” Dr. Ufomba said.

He advocated for a stronger focus on “studentpreneurship”—a model where students create and manage businesses as part of their academic experience. This approach, he said, would not only make them more employable but also turn them into job creators.

“We must move from just using exams and tests as assessment tools. Let’s assess students based on their ability to create impact and build ventures. This will enhance their practical skills and entrepreneurial mindset, which are critical for success in today’s economy.”

The workshop gathered entrepreneurship educators and policy advocates from across the country to brainstorm innovative solutions for integrating entrepreneurship into Nigeria’s higher education curriculum.