Post COVID-19: African varsities urged to embrace entrepreneurship education

The Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, Prof. William Qurix, has urged African universities to embrace entrepreneurship education as a means to adapt to the Post COVID-19 era. 

The VC stated this at the 2nd Global Annual Meeting of the Forum for Innovation in African Universities hosted by the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL) the University of Wolverhampton recently. 

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At the forum, Prof Qurix highlighted some achievements made by Nigerian universities and particularly the proposed review of curriculum by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in which entrepreneurship education has been emphasised. 

According to a statement by Bingham University, the forum brought together leaders of African universities, academics, business and government officials from different parts of the world to examine how African universities can transition into entrepreneurial universities in post COVID-19. 

It said the theme of the conference aligned with the emphasis on embedding entrepreneurship education in core curricula offered in the African higher education sector with a view to promoting economic development.

Speaking, Prof Peter Okebukola, who examined the state of education in Africa pre and post COVID – 19, noted that African universities were doing well but required more efforts in adapting to post COVID – 19 challenges.

Okebukola, who is a former executive secretary of the NUC, urged African universities to embrace technology and deploy it appropriately to education.

The Director of the Center for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership, Dr Paschal Anosike acknowledged the successes recorded by the Center which include the inauguration of the Forum.

The forum, which was declared opened by a former Commissioner of Science Education, African Union, Prof Sarah Agang, received the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Her Right Worshipful, Councilor Sandra Samuels, OBE who later hosted participants to an invite-only Mayoral luncheon.