Engr. Ogheneovo Ememerurai, Chairman, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSChE, Edo/Delta States Chapter, has harped on the need for continuous update and review of engineering curriculum in order to inculcate entrepreneurial mindset among students.
Engr. Ogheneovo Ememerurai, at the end of its virtual Public Lecture on Reducing Unemployment in Nigeria – Role of Tertiary Institutions in the Entrepreneurial Development of Engineering Graduates, noted that proper implementation could lead to a positive paradigm shift and the overall good of engineering graduates.
The lecture delivered by Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, FNSChE, Vice Chancellor, Edo State University, Uzairue and moderated by Engr. Dr. Teddy Odisu, MNSE, MNSChE, identified lack of awareness, difficulty in accessing credit facilities and unfriendly business environment as the overriding challenges inhibiting engineering entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
Key issues covered in the lecture include: Entrepreneurship in Nigeria, The Roles of Tertiary Institutions, and Key Challenges inhibiting Engineering Entrepreneurship in Nigeria, Edo State University Case Study and Recommendations. The lecture also noted the overriding challenges inhibiting Engineering entrepreneurship in Nigeria to include: Lack of awareness, Difficulty in accessing credit facilities, Unfriendly business environment.
The communiqué issued by the chapter noted “that some of the challenges bedeviling Nigeria are opportunities that Engineering graduates can explore because they are expected to be innovative, problem solvers and highly resourceful. It further notes that these opportunities cannot be identified without entrepreneurial studies.”
The communiqué stressed the need for tertiary institutions to Provide support on accessing credit facility for engineering and technology business solutions; engage government on engineering entrepreneurship friendly policies; engage in researches that have potential for commercialization and inculcate the ‘’possibility mentality’’ in engineering students.
It recommend the adoption of “Outcome-based education model which requires students to acquire hands-on experience on projects and task to develop core as well as soft skills and the need “to encourage business plan development competition among final year students in their areas of studies. This will help them to prepare for the unforeseen in case they could not find a paid job.”
The lecture which recorded an attendance of over 40 professionals and students drawn from industry and the academia, was attended by Engr. Dr. Teddy Odisu, Vice Chairman; Engr. Dr. Ohimor, Secretary; Engr. Kingsley Osuala, Assistant Secretary; Engr. Paul Iyanda, Publicity Secretary; Engr. Maduako, Assistant Publicity Secretary; Engr. Luke Igbanoi, Financial Secretary; Engr. Caroline Nwede, Auditor, Engr. Atsiangbe B., Auditor II and others.
