Professor Abolaji Dada, a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, has challenged Nigerian undergraduates to move beyond the pursuit of white-collar jobs and harness entrepreneurial thinking, digital innovation, and emerging technologies to transform societal challenges into viable businesses, generate employment, and drive economic development. This challenge was given during a presentation titled “Building Entrepreneurial Mindset: Solving Real Problems in a Digital Economy” at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, on October 28, 2026.
According to Dada, the future belongs to individuals who can identify pressing societal problems, understand people’s needs, and develop practical solutions capable of creating measurable economic and social value. He emphasized that Nigeria’s unemployment crisis, partly driven by weak industrial development, underscores the urgent need to strengthen the industrial sector while equipping young people with entrepreneurial and digital competencies to become job creators rather than dependants on scarce employment opportunities.
Dada identified five essential attributes for an entrepreneurial mindset: opportunity recognition, creative and critical thinking, initiative and resourcefulness, adaptability and resilience, and calculated risk-taking. He also highlighted emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, the Internet of Things, and non-fungible tokens as key areas reshaping business models and opening new frontiers across various sectors.
The professor cited examples of digital platforms, financial technology, e-commerce, and data-driven enterprises that have created new markets and opportunities for wealth creation, including Paystack, Flutterwave, Jumia, Netflix, Airbnb, and Amazon Web Services. He urged students to develop clear visions, plan strategically, embrace collaboration, acquire relevant digital and critical-thinking skills, seek mentorship, and continuously update their knowledge to achieve entrepreneurial success.
Igbinedion University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, stated that the institution’s vision extends beyond conferring academic degrees to producing well-rounded graduates equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world. He described the entrepreneurship training organised by the Sir (Dr.) David Osunde Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition as evidence of the institution’s commitment to practical education and graduate employability.
The Director of the Sir (Dr.) David Osunde Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Dr. Mrs. Mary Josiah, explained that the initiative aims to strengthen students’ capacity for venture creation, self-reliance, and sustainable economic participation. The Centre operates 13 vocational and entrepreneurial schools, offering training in areas such as animal husbandry, fashion, and technology and innovation.
The programme builds on the entrepreneurship foundation introduced at 200 Level, while 300 Level students undertake practical training in their chosen specialisations. The Centre has been formally adopted by the National Universities Commission as a national model for entrepreneurship and skills development and has established international collaborations with institutions such as Jiangxi Vocational University for Foreign Studies in China.
Key points
- Students urged to develop clear visions, plan strategically, and acquire relevant digital and critical-thinking skills for entrepreneurial success.
- Igbinedion University emphasises practical education and graduate employability through entrepreneurship training.
- Emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and AR are key areas for entrepreneurial innovation and job creation.
