An education-focused non-governmental organisation, Business Matters Incubator (BMI), has launched entrepreneurial educational tools crucial for the implementation of Nigeria’s newly introduced curriculum in primary and secondary schools.
The launch in Abuja was organised in partnership with the Great Achievers Initiative For Youth And Community Development (GAIYAD) and supported by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The tools aim to introduce primary school pupils to core entrepreneurship concepts, equipping them with vital skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and financial literacy.
The event drew stakeholders from the education sector, policymakers, political leaders, entrepreneurs, and regulatory agencies.
In his remarks, the Chairman of BMI, Dr Nnamdi Unachukwu, stated that early learning has been shown to motivate the development of behaviour and habits, adding that when the right tools are employed, they will influence behaviour and cognition and foster positive changes in values.
“Studies indicate that the optimal age for introducing entrepreneurship education is between seven and 14 years, making our basic education system the ideal platform for nurturing future job creators rather than job seekers.
“The rest of the world is advancing rapidly in technology, with Artificial Intelligence transforming the entire educational landscape. Schools in Nigeria must not only focus on developing cognitive abilities but must also imbibe the new policy that encourages practical skills for young learners”, he said.
He urged all stakeholders to support the initiative to develop an effective and efficient entrepreneurial educational methodology in line with global best practices.
In a goodwill message, the Special Guest of Honour and Senate President, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, said there is a need to re-engineer the activities in the education sector.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Tony Ezeigbo, Sen. Akpabio commended the organisers for their unwavering determination in building and empowering the students and pupils to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and ambitions.
The Vice Chairman of the Education Advisory Board of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, Abuja, Professor Okey Ikechukwu, emphasised the necessity of retraining teachers to ensure the effective realisation of Nigeria’s new basic education curriculum.
Such retraining, according to him, was essential to promote deeper learning and ensure that students truly understand lessons, rather than merely memorising or reproducing what teachers present in class.
He said, “So we have a curriculum. Now, a curriculum cannot teach you anything. There have to be teachers.
“It’s not about children reproducing what you wrote on the board or what you told them, but whether they can get the meaning.”
He urged state governments that have adopted the BMI model to go beyond policy-level engagement by organising training-of-trainers programmes for teachers.
The Guardian reports that the tools offer a structured curriculum designed to ignite creativity, foster problem-solving skills, and instil an innovative mindset in participants.
Through interactive learning experiences, including entrepreneurial tools approved by relevant bodies, videos, quizzes, and reading materials, young entrepreneurs aged seven to 14 years old are equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for entrepreneurship.
