Daud Olatunji
The Director-General of Onitsha Business School, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s tertiary education system, warning that unless universities urgently adopt entrepreneurship and localised learning models, they risk becoming “factories of frustration.”
Speaking at the commissioning of the N350 million Olufemi Okenla Entrepreneurship Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Sogbesan declared that the university system in Nigeria is “teaching young people in foreign tongues, but not in the language of enterprise.”
In a thought-provoking keynote titled The Role of Tertiary Institutions in Promoting Entrepreneurship in Nigeria, he urged universities to discard their obsession with degrees and certificates, and instead focus on nurturing creators, innovators, and job generators.
“We are not simply calling for a tweak in the curriculum,” he said. “We are calling for a redefinition of the very purpose of higher education in Nigeria.”
The professor outlined a six-pronged strategy for transformation, including: institutionalising entrepreneurship as a university-wide mission, building on-campus innovation hubs, redesigning curricula for practical outcomes, training facilitators, ensuring access to capital and mentorship, and integrating policy and accountability mechanisms.
“These strategies are not aspirational—they are achievable,” Sogbesan asserted. “They require leadership, alignment, and urgency.”
He argued that entrepreneurship must be rooted in indigenous languages and contextual realities.
“From the African apprenticeship model to the rise of tech startups, our curriculum must speak the language of our people—both literally and practically,” he said.
“If we continue to graduate students who can write exams but cannot write proposals… if our degrees do not produce value, then we are complicit in engineering their frustration and Nigeria’s stagnation,” he added, drawing loud applause.
Sogbesan warned that without a radical overhaul, Nigeria would continue to churn out certificate-holding job seekers who remain disconnected from economic relevance.
“No entrepreneurship, no development. Tertiary institutions must stop preparing students only to join the workforce and start preparing them to build the workforce.”
…Minister Backs Call for Entrepreneurial Shift
Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, described the new Centre as “a gateway to new thinking, new ventures, and new opportunities.”
“In a nation blessed with talent yet burdened by unemployment, our educational model must evolve. We must now produce job creators, not just job seekers,” Sule said.
He hailed the Olufemi Okenla Foundation for what he described as “a visionary investment in the youth of Nigeria” and aligned the Centre’s goals with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises youth empowerment and economic diversification.
“The Olufemi Okenla Entrepreneur Centre is a powerful addition to this national movement,” he said. “It is a space where ideas will be nurtured, businesses will be born, and the dreams of many young Nigerians will find wings.”
The donor, Prof. Olufemi Okenla, a distinguished alumnus and entrepreneur, shared an emotional account of how his experiences at OOU shaped his entrepreneurial spirit.
“This institution taught me to wear my thinking cap,” he said, recalling how a life-threatening spinal injury in his second year forced him to find creative means of survival—selling bread and screening films to fellow students.
Okenla revealed that the N350 million project was conceived when he turned 59, and will be delivered in three phases, including N50 million for equipping the centre, and another N100 million to be set aside in a fixed deposit account for maintenance.
“By September, the first batch of 20 students will be admitted—10 from the Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences and another 10 from my church,” he announced.
In a notable philanthropic gesture, Okenla also pledged N20 million in seed capital for student-led startups, with N5 million to be awarded to each of the first four graduating cohorts.
“Let us ensure the next generation of Nigerian graduates does not leave university with just a certificate in hand, but with a business in motion, a product in development, or a vision already unfolding,” he said.
He also praised Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of KICC, whom he credited for inspiring the project, and expressed heartfelt appreciation to his wife of 36 years.
“She has stood by me for over four decades and will now oversee the disbursement of the seed capital. This is not just our legacy; it is our life’s mission,” he said.
… University Leadership Commits to Entrepreneurial Vision
The Vice Chancellor of OOU, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, in his remarks, said he had long observed the gap between “town and gown” and committed to bridging it through what he called the “Three Es”:
“Our graduates must be Employable, become Employers of labour, and be capable of Furthering their Education,” Agboola said. “We have achieved the first. The second and third depend on strong collaborations like this.”
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, commended the donor for his vision and generosity.
“You have given Olabisi Onabanjo University a legacy that will outlive you. This Centre will be a cradle of innovation and a launchpad for young dreams,” Ashiru stated.
The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba AbdulRazaq Adenugba, also graced the occasion alongside dignitaries from academia, the private sector, and civil society.
'
'
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
