Lamenting the dearth of entrepreneurship skills and leadership quality in our country, experts in this field have urged the National Universities Commission, NUC, to make it a compulsory unit course in the university.
They argued that apart from acquiring the academic knowledge, calculated efforts should be made to train students on leadership.
According to them, such entrepreneurial skills and leadership qualities should begin from the junior secondary school and continue to the university.
Speaking in Lagos during the official launch of a book titled, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Series, one of the authors, Mr Dipo Ojedeji said: “Let entrepreneurship and leadership be a course unit in the university.”
Ojedeji who decried lack of leadership qualities in many youths, posited that unless something is done urgently , the country will continue to suffer dearth of good leadership.
“We want leadership and entrepreneurship separated from academics. The book, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Series, has shown the way out,” he said.
Ojedeji who stated that his team is working with NERDC and the state government to approve the book, disclosed that already, the 22 locations of the Deeper Life High School have adopted the book.
On her part, Mrs Ronke Faseru who co-authored the book said the secret behind America’s wealth is that it thrives on small and medium businesses.
Speaking on the importance of entrepreneurship to a nation, Faseru pointed out that Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook drive the economy of the United States of America.
She frowned at graduates who believe that they must work for somebody to earn monthly salary, without which they cannot make a living.
According to her, Nigeria is blessed with intelligent people that are lacking in practical experience.
While reviewing the book, the book reviewer, Mrs Busola Adegbaju said the book is so interesting that “once you pick the book, you will not leave it until you read through.”
She said: “ The book has 17 chapters, divided into two sections. One is on leadership and the other is on entrepreneurship. While the first talks about attitudes, the second aspect talks about entrepreneurship. The book has the Nigerian Constitution broken down for students’s understanding.
It is inspirational; no matter how sincere you are, if you don’t have the right attitude, things will not work for you. The book also talks about the training of teachers. It tells students what to do and not just go to school, learn, graduate and work. The book has indirectly developed a curriculum. The difference between the children of the white and black is the way they think. We lack application of knowledge in Nigeria.”
Oni Oluwakayode Group 2
