Prof. Ribadu Tasks Versities to Embrace Practical Entrepreneurship Education

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, has called on Nigerian universities to move beyond the theoretical teaching of entrepreneurship and adopt practical, innovation-driven approaches capable of producing graduates who create jobs, solve societal problems and drive economic growth. Professor Ribadu made the call while declaring open a three-day training on Teaching Entrepreneurship Using Effectuation at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, on Wednesday, 8th July, 2026. He reaffirmed the Commissions commitment to embedding practical, action-oriented entrepreneurship education across Nigerian universities through the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), noting that the training was designed to equip lecturers with innovative teaching approaches that foster entrepreneurial mindsets, creativity and resilience among students, irrespective of their fields of study. According to him, entrepreneurship education should provide students with practical learning experiences that enable them to identify opportunities, solve real-world problems and create value in an increasingly innovation-driven economy. Professor Ribadu stated that the Commission remains committed to ensuring the quality, relevance and global competitiveness of university education, which informed the introduction of the CCMAS in 2022. He explained that the curriculum was deliberately designed to produce graduates who go beyond earning degrees by developing the capacity to think creatively, innovate and create value. Consequently, entrepreneurship was embedded across all undergraduate programmes, regardless of discipline. The Executive Secretary, however, observed that curriculum reform alone would not achieve the desired outcomes unless entrepreneurship is taught through practical experience rather than classroom theory. He lamented that entrepreneurship is still largely delivered as a theoretical subject in many universities, warning that unless teaching methods evolve, institutions risk falling short of the objectives of the CCMAS. The task, therefore, is not simply to teach entrepreneurship, but to create learning experiences that cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, he said. Professor Ribadu explained that the training introduces participants to the Effectuation Approach, a methodology developed from studying how successful entrepreneurs make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. He described the approach as particularly relevant to Nigerias socio-economic environment, where entrepreneurs contend with limited access to finance, infrastructure deficits and evolving regulatory systems. Preparing students for such realities, he said, requires developing resilience, adaptability and the confidence to act in uncertain circumstances rather than relying solely on conventional business planning. He further noted that one of the major strengths of the Effectuation Approach is its emphasis on learning for entrepreneurship rather than merely learning about entrepreneurship. He added that the methodology is applicable across all academic disciplines and can be effectively adopted by lecturers without specialised business backgrounds, making it well suited for implementation under the CCMAS framework. Citing successful application of the approach in countries including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Professor Ribadu expressed confidence that, with appropriate adaptation to Nigerias context, it would significantly strengthen entrepreneurship education, improve graduate employability and stimulate enterprise creation. He urged participants to approach the training with open minds and a willingness to rethink conventional teaching methods, encouraging them to apply the knowledge gained in ways that will empower students to create opportunities for themselves and contribute meaningfully to national development.