ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB) has unveiled a bold initiative to embed innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship into Nigeria’s basic education curriculum—aiming to equip young learners with practical skills for self-reliance.
This was revealed during a two-day training session for FCT teachers focused on entrepreneurship education, held in Abuja. Representing the Board’s Acting Chairman, Dr. Alhassan Sule, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, Director of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at FCT-UBEB, emphasized that the program is designed to empower pupils to become problem-solvers and productive members of society.
“Our vision is clear—we want every child, upon completing primary and junior secondary school, to be capable of doing something meaningful with their hands and minds,” Wenegieme said. “We are aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by giving children the tools to build their own futures.”
The initiative incorporates practical vocational training into the basic school system, including skills like welding, fashion design, electrical installation, plumbing, bricklaying, and hairstyling. According to Wenegieme, these trades will not only help students become self-sufficient but also enable them to create employment for others.
“We’re building capacity early. The aim is for children to graduate not just with certificates, but with competencies that can immediately serve them and their communities,” she added.
The training program is also designed to empower teachers, giving them the tools and methods to instill innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom.
Mr. Kolawale Olobashola, Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at the FCT Education Secretariat, echoed these sentiments, stating that embedding entrepreneurship education at the foundational level is a key step toward sustainable national development.
“With the right skills, no child in the FCT should become a burden on society. This is about shaping a generation that can create, build, and lead,” he said.
Olobashola affirmed that the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, remains committed to overhauling the education system by promoting functional, skill-based learning that prepares students not just to pass exams, but to thrive in real-world environments.
