Don calls for overhaul of curriculum for entrepreneurial development

A professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Mrs Olajumoke Familoni, has called on education stakeholders and the Federal Government to consider overhauling of Nigeria’s curriculum for entrepreneurial development and to accommodate models that are obtainable in the development of education in the 21st century.

Professor Familoni, who is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of International Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development (ICLED), made the call during the closing ceremony of a six-day entrepreneurial and leadership training for public school teachers in Ogun State.

The training, which had earlier been held in Ijebu-Ode and Ilaro, took place at the Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and was organised by the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in conjunction with ICLED Business School.

With the theme ‘21st Century Methodologies in School Management for School Leaders in Ogun State’, the event was attended by no fewer than 2,500 head teachers and their assistants.

Familoni said, “Our curriculum needs to be overhauled. There is disconnect between what is needed in the 21st century and what we have in schools. Many mechanics today have the skills, but they don’t know how to really run a business. That is why we are in poverty in Nigeria. That is what we are trying to correct in ICLED.”

She further maintained that the training would economically empower the teachers while in service and even in retirement, and would enable them to impact the people and employ more hands.

Awards were given to outstanding trainees who excelled at the seminar.

Speaking with journalists, the chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Jeleel Okewole, explained that the training was in conformity with Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government’s commitment to ensure citizens are self-reliant.

Okewole who was represented by the permanent member 1 at SUBEB, Chief Wole Adesiji, said teachers who had benefited from the training would in turn impart those skills to pupils across the state.