Experts have slammed Nigeria’s Ministries of Science and Technology for failing to promote innovation, calling for a revamp of the education system to incorporate entrepreneurship and creativity from the primary school level.

They made the submission at the 1st International Conference on Business, Finance and Entrepreneurship (IBUFINE 2025) organised by the North Eastern University, Gombe, in collaboration with the Certified Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education (CIEEE), with a theme of “Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development”, held at the university.

Professor Nuruddeen Oyekola, Registrar and CEO of the Certified Institute of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Education, lamented that the ministries are not doing enough to support scientific discoveries and commercialisation of products, leaving most innovations to gather dust in laboratories.

He urged universities to shift focus from merely teaching entrepreneurship to creating ventures, emphasising that project-based learning and collaboration across departments are essential.

Oyekola recommended guiding students to study disciplines aligned with their natural talents and crafts, noting that it would help them succeed and drive innovation.

Another speaker at the conference, Professor Babangida Muhammad Musa from Gombe State University, stressed the need for students to develop soft skills to thrive in the era of the industrial revolution.

Musa stressed that incorporating an entrepreneurship mindset into all disciplines’ curricula is crucial for Nigeria’s growth.

He recommended adopting project-based learning in universities, where students develop critical thinking and present innovative solutions, and encouraged collaboration across departments to solve complex issues and promote innovation.

He encouraged them to be innovative and master Artificial Intelligence (AI) to stay ahead in the job market.

“Even in the AI era, be innovative to learn how to manage AI so that it will not take over your job. If you develop yourself beyond the AI, then you become the master of the AI, and industries will look for you”, he advised.

Musa also advised universities to invite industry captains to share their experiences with students, providing valuable insights into entrepreneurship and critical skills.

The Pro-chancellor of North Eastern University, Gombe, Professor Sani Jauro, stated that the university prioritises conferences alongside classroom lectures to expose students to real-life experiences from experts.

He mentioned the university’s recent partnerships with international universities, including those in Malaysia, and organisations in China focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Head of Business Administration at North Eastern University Gombe, Dr Abubakar Aliyu, stated that the conference aimed to instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students, equipping them to address unemployment challenges.

“By promoting innovation, students can create jobs for themselves. With the university’s first graduation approaching next year, the goal is to ensure students secure employment immediately after graduating”, he said.