The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has approved a new entrepreneurship education tool designed to teach entrepreneurship and skill acquisition at the primary and secondary school levels.
Speaking to the press, Nnamdi Unachukwu, founder of the BMI entrepreneurship tool, praised the approval as a significant step toward equipping young Nigerians with the skills and mindset necessary for business success and global competitiveness.
“We have long advocated for a functional revamp of the school curriculum. In May 2024, we brought together stakeholders from the education and business sectors to launch the BMI CTY Initiative, where our entrepreneurship learning tools were first showcased,” Unachukwu explained.
Following the initiative’s launch, the NERDC approved the BMI tool, making it the first indigenous resource for teaching entrepreneurship and skill acquisition in Nigeria’s basic education system.
Unachukwu highlighted several components of the initiative:
1. Train the Trainer (TTT) Tool: A program designed to train teachers within one month, equipping them to effectively teach entrepreneurship and skill acquisition in classrooms.
2. Skills Lab Model: A replicable framework for setting up practical learning environments where students can acquire hands-on vocational skills. This aligns with the National Council on Education’s (NCE) mandate for every child to graduate with at least two skills.
The BMI entrepreneurship tool has already been adopted by some schools, yielding notable results and enthusiastic participation from pupils. Unachukwu revealed that discussions are ongoing with several state governments to implement entrepreneurship education statewide.
He emphasized the broader impact of the initiative:
“This tool will not only empower pupils but also have a transformative effect on the economy. It addresses unemployment by equipping young people with practical skills and reducing dependence on white-collar jobs. By tackling the root causes of youth criminality and the get-rich-quick mentality, this solution promises a brighter future for Nigeria if properly supported.”
Unachukwu expressed confidence that the entrepreneurship tool would play a pivotal role in solving Nigeria’s unemployment challenges and fostering a generation of innovative, self-reliant citizens.
