NUC approves entrepreneurship certification programme in varsities

THE National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Association of Business Executives (ABE) of United Kingdom will on November 19, 2014 sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the promotion of entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities.

The Association of Business Executives, a professional membership body and an examination board which develops business and management qualifications provide progression routes to bachelor degree and Masters programmes worldwide.

ABE has long established relationships with universities across the world who value students with ABE qualifications as the students possess the necessary study skills and background knowledge to succeed.

In a letter vide NUC/ES/306/Vol.5 dated October 2, 2014 and signed by Professor Julius Okojie, executive secretary, NUC and addressed to the chief executive officer of Association of Business Executives, Mr John Goldup, it conveyed the endorsement and formal approval of the commission to ABE’s request to partner with NUC to promote entrepreneurial education in Nigerian universities.

Okojie in the letter said: “the commission in consideration of your pedigree as a reputable international organisation and professional body, wishes to convey its formal approval of the proposed ABE international certification programme for delivery in Nigerian universities. Please accept the assurance of the executive secretary’s highest regards.”

The signing of the MoU will take place at the Annual Nigerian Universities Entrepreneurship Week (ANEW) which holds from November 17 to 23, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. It will witness a powerful delegation of ABE United Kingdom led by the founding chairman of ABE, Mr Lyndon Jones who will deliver the colloquium dinner speech.

Others included Lord Tomlinson, ABE council chairman, who will deliver a goodwill message; while Mr John Goldup, CEO of ABE and Professor Tom Baum will deliver keynote speeches on ‘Start and Grow Your Business’ and ‘Appropriate Human Resources and skills development for the 21st century world of works’. The team will also have Mr Jim Davie and Dr Peter Martin and other members of the delegation.

Mr Tim Akano, vice chairman of Winigroup Limited, Nigerian representative of Association of Business Executives, said “This is a momentous time for both Nigeria and the universities undergraduates. The recent approval of NUC for the integration of a robust, end-to-end entrepreneurship programme into the university academic curricula could not have come at a better time: it is the best way to avert impending social unrest by turning the graduates to job creators rather than job seekers.

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