Opinion
Entrepreneurship Education As A Survival Mechanism
States and nations are usually adjudged developed when in real terms, they can boast of citizens with viable skills to sustain their economic and social well-being. For this reason, every developing nation strives for self-reliance so that it could be confidently tagged independent. This, according to Oloko (2015), means that self-reliance must be attained by any nation aspiring for time development and independence which must have as its goal, the attainment of self sufficiency.
A nation that depends on other countries for most of its needs and survival, cannot be said to be truly independent. Thus, every citizen, young and old has to be adequately sensitised on the need to be productive so as to achieve this goal of self sufficiency via self reliance.
Today’s education no doubt, is saddled with the task of preparing students for success and eventual leadership in the new global market. The preparation of the young ones so that they can serve the needs of the society has remained its major goal. Suffice it to say that entrepreneurship education ençapsulates the raison d’etre of education which of course is globally considered a veritable machinery for achieving development.
However, for education to actually live up to its transformatory requirements, Friere, cited in Nakpodia and Obielumani(2012) said it has to be such that not only leaves its beneficiaries critically aware of their realities, but leads them to take action upon such awareness. This invariably means that education lives to its bidding only when it equips the individual with the requisite know-how (knowledge) and the right attitude with which to transform self from a dependent being, to an independent, self reliant being.
This explains why some see entrepreneurship education as the active force of education needed by all and sundry to survive. Its skills are not only relevant to those who are interested in starting and growing their own businesses, but to all. They are necessary in the work place, daily activities, home management, etc.
Therefore, apart from preparing students for any competitive endeavour, entrepreneurship education is tantamount to survival mechanism in the day to day activities of man. In the light of the need to match realities with well-prepared human resources to serve national needs and interest, the Federal Government through its national policy, postulated the acquisition of appropriate skills and knowledge necessary for one to secure paid employment or be self employed.
By this provision, it is expected that any child who leaves school after the senior secondary education, should be able to fit into the world of work either as an employee or employer. Section 5 of the 2004 National Policy on Education highlights this. It outlined some of the goals of secondary education to include provision of trained manpower in the applied sciences, technology and commerce at the sub professional grades, raising a generation of people who can think for themselves as well as respect the views of others. It is also expected to provide technical and vocational skills necessary for agricultural, industrial, commercial and economic development.
The idea behind entrepreneurship education if well harnessed, will surely bring about economic growth and poverty alleviation in Nigeria. Self reliance, which is an expected end product of entrepreneurship education is a vital key to self realisation, better human relationship as well as social, cultural, economic, political, scientific and technological progress.
The curriculum should therefore emphasise education that can give way to the acquisition of the right attitude and value for the survival of the individual and the Nigerian society.
Again, since the whole essence of entrepreneurship education lies in equipping the individual with the requisite know-how with which to be useful to first himself and secondly to the society at large, entrepreneurial and relevant skills development should be geared towards building on existing good practices both in terms of pedagogy and module content.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
From all indications, Nigeria possesses enough human and material resources to become a true economic powerhouse in Africa. According to the National Population Commission (NPC, 2023), the country’s population has grown steadily within the last decade, presently standing at about 220 million people—mostly young, vibrant, and innovative. Nigeria also remains the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with enormous reserves of gas, fertile agricultural land, and human capital.
Yet, despite this enormous potential, the country continues to grapple with underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) show that about 129 million Nigerians currently live below the poverty line. Most families can no longer afford basic necessities, even as the government continues to project a rosy economic picture.
The Subsidy Question
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been one of the most controversial policy decisions in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the president, subsidy removal was designed to reduce fiscal burden, unify the foreign exchange rate, attract investment, curb inflation, and discourage excessive government borrowing.
While these objectives are theoretically sound, the reality for ordinary Nigerians has been severe hardship. Fuel prices more than tripled, transportation costs surged, and food inflation—already high—rose above 30% (NBS, 2023). The World Bank (2023) estimates that an additional 7.1 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty after subsidy removal.
A Critical Economic View
As an economist, I argue that the problem was not subsidy removal itself—which was inevitable—but the timing, sequencing, and structural gaps in Nigeria’s implementation.
- Structural Miscalculation
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries remain nonfunctional. By removing subsidies without local refining capacity, the government exposed the economy to import-price pass-through effects—where global oil price shocks translate directly into domestic inflation. This was not just a timing issue but a fundamental policy miscalculation.
- Neglect of Social Safety Nets
Countries like Indonesia (2005) and Ghana (2005) removed subsidies successfully only after introducing cash transfers, transport vouchers, and food subsidies for the poor (World Bank, 2005). Nigeria, however, implemented removal abruptly, shifting the fiscal burden directly onto households without protection.
- Failure to Secure Food and Energy Alternatives
Fuel subsidy removal amplified existing weaknesses in agriculture and energy. Instead of sequencing reforms, government left Nigerians without refinery capacity, renewable energy alternatives, or mechanized agricultural productivity—all of which could have cushioned the shock.
Political and Public Concerns
Prominent leaders have echoed these concerns. Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the subsidy removal as “good but wrongly timed.” Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party also faulted the government’s hasty approach. Human rights activists like Obodoekwe Stive stressed that refineries should have been made functional first, to reduce the suffering of citizens.
This is not just political rhetoric—it reflects a widespread economic reality. When inflation climbs above 30%, when purchasing power collapses, and when households cannot meet basic needs, the promise of reform becomes overshadowed by social pain.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this policy are multidimensional:
- Inflationary Pressures – Food inflation above 30% has made nutrition unaffordable for many households.
- Rising Poverty – 7.1 million Nigerians have been newly pushed into poverty (World Bank, 2023).
- Middle-Class Erosion – Rising transport, rent, and healthcare costs are squeezing household incomes.
- Debt Concerns – Despite promises, government borrowing has continued, raising sustainability questions.
- Public Distrust – When government promises savings but citizens feel only pain, trust in leadership erodes.
In effect, subsidy removal without structural readiness has widened inequality and eroded social stability.
Missed Opportunities
Nigeria’s leaders had the chance to approach subsidy removal differently:
- Refinery Rehabilitation – Ensuring local refining to reduce exposure to global oil price shocks.
- Renewable Energy Investment – Diversifying energy through solar, hydro, and wind to reduce reliance on imported petroleum.
- Agricultural Productivity – Mechanization, irrigation, and smallholder financing could have boosted food supply and stabilized prices.
- Social Safety Nets – Conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and transport subsidies could have protected the most vulnerable.
Instead, reform came abruptly, leaving citizens to absorb all the pain while waiting for theoretical long-term benefits.
Conclusion: Reform With a Human Face
Fuel subsidy removal was inevitable, but Nigeria’s approach has worsened hardship for millions. True reform must go beyond fiscal savings to protect citizens.
Economic policy is not judged only by its efficiency but by its humanity. A well-sequenced reform could have balanced fiscal responsibility with equity, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians were not crushed under the weight of sudden change.
Nigeria has the resources, population, and resilience to lead Africa’s economy. But leadership requires foresight. It requires policies that are inclusive, humane, and strategically sequenced.
Reform without equity is displacement of poverty, not development. If Nigeria truly seeks progress, its policies must wear a human face.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Poverty and Inequality Report. Abuja.
- National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Population Estimates. Abuja.
- World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Development Update. Washington, DC.
- World Bank. (2005). Fuel Subsidy Reforms: Lessons from Indonesia and Ghana. Washington, DC.
- OPEC. (2023). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Vienna.
By: Amarachi Amaugo