The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has called on Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to evolve into incubators of creativity, industry, and sustainable enterprise, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes youth empowerment, economic diversification, and inclusive development.
Dr. Alausa delivered these remarks in a goodwill message at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, during a colloquium themed “The Role of Tertiary Institutions in Promoting Entrepreneurship in Nigeria,” alongside the commissioning of the Olufemi Okenla Entrepreneur Centre, a facility generously donated by the Olufemi Okenla Foundation.
Represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule, the Minister stressed the urgent need to shift from producing job-seeking graduates to nurturing job creators, innovators, and problem-solvers.
“In a country blessed with abundant talent but challenged by unemployment, education must evolve beyond traditional roles. Our graduates should be equipped not only with knowledge but also with the skills to transform that knowledge into value,” he asserted.
Dr. Alausa commended the Olufemi Okenla Foundation for its visionary investment and praised Olabisi Onabanjo University for hosting the significant event, pledging the Ministry’s continuous support for initiatives that empower Nigerian youths.
Otunba Olufemi Okenla, the donor and pioneer student of the former Ogun State University (now OOU), shared his entrepreneurial journey and the motivation behind giving back to his alma mater. The Entrepreneur Centre was constructed at a cost of N350 million, with an additional N100 million allocated to sustain operations until it becomes self-sufficient.
By September, the Centre will welcome its inaugural cohort of students, including 10 scholarship recipients fully funded by the Foundation, alongside another 10 scholars sponsored by the Kingsway International Christian Centre.
Otunba Okenla also revealed plans to award seed funding of N20 million to four outstanding graduates from the Centre to support their business ventures.
OOU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ayodeji Agboola, highlighted entrepreneurship as a priority since his tenure began, with a threefold mission: to ensure graduates are employable, become employers, and pursue further education. He commended Okenla’s contribution and urged other alumni to emulate his philanthropic example.
In the keynote address, Professor Olusegun Sogbesan, Director-General of Onitsha Business School, advocated for a fundamental redefinition of higher education’s purpose in Nigeria. He emphasized that entrepreneurship should be embedded as a core discipline, mandatory for all students, regardless of their field of study.
Professor Sogbesan stressed that every student should graduate with both academic credentials and practical business experience, including launching a live project during their studies. He argued that entrepreneurship must be regarded as a prestigious, first-choice career path supported by robust, practical learning.
“If we continue to graduate students who only excel in exams but lack practical skills like proposal writing; if degrees fail to produce tangible value; if our youths are trained merely to seek jobs rather than create enterprises, then we are perpetuating their frustration and Nigeria’s developmental stagnation,” he warned.
The Olufemi Okenla Entrepreneur Centre was officially dedicated by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Senior Pastor of the Kingsway International Christian Centre, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to integrate entrepreneurship into higher education.
