By Olukayode Babalola
The management of the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) has reaffirmed it’s commitment in training and producing young Nigerian entrepreneurs and also promoting academic excellence through research and intellectual engagement.
Prof Sa’adatu Liman, Vice Chancellor of the university made the commitment at the 4th edition of the University’s Faculty of Administration Staff Seminar Series paper presentation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the topic of the paper is “Reimagining Entrepreneurship beyond business creation: A philosophical, speculative and critical framework for innovation, social value and human development”.
The seminar paper was delivered by Prof Abdulsalam Jibrin, professor of Entrepreneurship studies, Department of Entrepreneurship Studies in the university.
NAN reports that the seminar brought together academics, staff and students from various departments of the institution to explore new perspectives on entrepreneurship and it’s relevance to contemporary society.
In her remarks, Liman commended the faculty for coming up with the event, adding that the institution will continue to provide platforms for intellectual curiosity, promote research and encourage meaningful dialogue across different fields of study.
She noted that the university was fully committed in training and churning out young graduates with entrepreneurship skill set who are competent and capable of being self sufficient and contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.
In his paper presentation, Prof Jibril challenged the understanding of entrepreneurship as merely the establishment of business and emphasized that entrepreneurship should be considered as a catalyst for innovation, critical thinking, social transformation and human capital development.
He said this new thinking on entrepreneurship motivated him to formulate and present his Re-imagined Entrepreneurship Framework (REF) which is an integrative metatheory entrepreneurship beyond business creation towards responsible innovation and sustainable human capital development.
Jibrin explained that entrepreneurship needed re-imagining because of economic reductionism, theoretical fragmentation, weak ethical foundations and the need for a multidimensional theory.
He then called on participants to embrace ethical leadership and creative problem solving as essential components of entrepreneurial practice in today’s rapidly changing world.
He also urged young Nigerians not to be afraid to take risks as risk taking is one of the traits of an entrepreneur needless of whether the risk was successful or not.
“The entrepreneur is viewed as an innovator, risk-bearer, opportunity discoverer and resource mobilizer,” he said.
He also added that entrepreneurship in the current age is inevitable because it has become a force for sustainable transformation in an increasingly complex world. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)