UNN graduating students’ fault Emefiele’s lecture presentation
…Call for making entrepreneurial skill a core-course for all
Mixed reactions have continued to trail lead presentation of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele at the 47th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, entitled: “A mindset for Succeeding in Today’s Nigeria” which he delivered.
Whereas he challenged the graduating students of the University to explore and take advantage of the present challenges confronting the country to become job creators in the economy, many of the graduates who spoke to Business Hilights South East Bureau Chief, faulted the banker, saying their training failed to impact on them, the prerequisite entrepreneurial skills to do what he preached.
In unison, they argued that by the structure of their university education which is same nationwide, no credible entrepreneurial skill come with any of the accredited fields of studies they passed through.
This scenario therefore leaves them with only looking for paid jobs after national service.
Accordingly, the graduates therefore called for immediate restructuring of the Nigerian universities academic curricula to include relevant entrepreneurial skills for all field of studies.
Emefiele had noted that rising unemployment remained one of the greatest challenges facing the country, warning that failure to galvanise the youths into realistic entrepreneurial skills could boomerang against the Nigerian society.
While stressing the need for young Nigerian graduates to change their mind-set on the labour market, Emefiele insisted that, in spite of the many complaints about the country, Nigeria remained a land of limitless opportunities.
He therefore charged the graduating students to strive to be job creators and entrepreneurs rather than being mere job-seekers.
Besides, Emefiele, who is also an alumnus of the University, said the CBN, as part of its effort to address the challenge of unemployment on the one hand and the promotion of entrepreneurship among the youth, had designed and formulated policies and programmes aimed at direct real sector intervention.
CBN boss was quick encourage the graduating students and other Nigerian youth with not more than five years post-service experience to take advantage of the CBN’s Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP), which the Bank runs in collaboration with banks and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
