FUTA Muslim graduates task undergraduates on entrepreneurial skills

THE national chairman of the Federal University of Technology Akure Muslim Graduates’ Association (FUTAMGA), Mr Abdulateef Abdulsalam, has advised undergraduates to acquire entrepreneurial skills as a way of ensuring a bright future.

Abdulsalam made this call during the 13th national conference of the association themed ‘FUTAMGA: Means to Educational and Entrepreneurial Growth’, which was held on the premises of the institution.

He said it was imperative to educate the prospective graduates and, indeed, all young Nigerians about the current realities of the Nigerian economy and steps they need to take to “quickly set out on the journey of life.”

According to him, the “fourth industrial revolution” is at hand and more jobs will likely be lost, about 40 per cent of the world’s youth population having been reported unemployed as of 2018.

“We are trying to encourage our young graduates that there are numerous opportunities out there which they can seize and get support from the present government.

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“There are agriculture, small scale businesses, medium scale businesses and others that our young graduates can get into and become productive and contribute to the development of the society and Nigeria at large.

“So, our young graduates need to think outside the certificate by acquiring entrepreneurial skills,” he said.

Similarly, Professor Buniyamin Kareem of the institution’s Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, in his paper titled ‘Evolving a Sustainable Academic Curriculum for Poverty Alleviation’, said education without entrepreneurship could not withstand the test of time.

Prof. Kareem explained that for any academic curriculum to be acceptable, it should promote excellence in morality, spirituality, innovation, entrepreneurship and research.

“Entrepreneurship is a sustainable means of poverty alleviation for individuals and the general populace. A system with a symbiotic relationship between academic and entrepreneurship training will provide a sustainable platform for poverty eradication in the society,” he said.

The chairman of the organising committee, Mr Olaleye Sulaimam, said choice of the theme of the conference was informed by the economic situation of the country and the need for young graduates to think beyond acquiring certificates alone.

Sulaiman appealed to government at all levels to assist young graduates and those willing to undertake entrepreneurship so that they could become self- employed and not job seekers,” he said.

“Our government needs to assist us, especially our prospective entrepreneurs, because even if you have the skill, you must also have the capital,” he said.

 

Nigerian Tribune