SMEDAN begins training of teachers for primary, secondary schools in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has begun training of teachers from both primary and secondary schools on entrepreneurship development education in Akwa Ibom State.

The Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, said this during a capacity-building workshop for entrepreneurship teachers under the mind shift entrepreneurship programme in Uyo on Wednesday.

Our correspondent reports that training is to equip the teachers with adequate business skills for them to translate the idea to students in their respective schools and is tagged, the National School Entrepreneurship programme (N-SEP).

Fasanya added that through the programme, the teachers would be able to awaken the business consciousness of the students by inculcating in them the culture of entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

“The Mind Shift Entrepreneurship Programme is designed to engage the vibrant energy of our students and youths, and channel it into productive venture creation.

“The programme is to provide access to functional and hands-on entrepreneurship/financial literacy and community service education to every primary and secondary student in Nigeria.

“The programme will stimulate and facilitate the culture of entrepreneurship and community service in primary, and secondary schools across Nigeria with the view to assist students in exhibiting creativity and innovation.

“The National School Entrepreneurship Programme is to prepare the pupils and students for the 4th industrial revolution. There is a paradigm shift in today’s education.

“It is no more “go to school, get good grades and get a good job.” it is “go to school, get good grades and acquire skills of “being your own boss”- starting your business,” Fasanya said.

The director general said that under the programme, the agency has trained 3,000 teachers in 29 states of the federation from 2017 to date, adding that the remaining seven states will be covered before the end of 2022.

In her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, said that entrepreneurship is an indispensable part of a nation’s capacity to succeed in an ever-changing and more competitive global marketplace.

Etiebet, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Rose Bassey, said that the inclusion of entrepreneurial education in the school curriculum would not only boost the standard of education but will also provide students with the knowledge needed for learning and acquiring skills to become self-employed.

“The knowledge so gained would be transferred to our children in schools and encourage them to acquire skills which transform them into entrepreneurs, thus impacting positively on the society and enhancing community development,” Etiebet said.

She said the state ministry of education was proud to be associated with SMEDAN on this timely and welcomed innovation because the knowledge and experience so gained by the participants would enable them to become positive change agents in society.

She urged participants to embrace the programme and exhibit a high level of discipline and concentrate throughout the training period and become good ambassadors of their schools.

In his goodwill message, Mr Ime Edoho, Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) Akwa Ibom Chapter commended SMEDAN for being serious as regards to the issue of Entrepreneurship development and MSMEs in the country.  Mr Ubongabasi Ikpe, the participant, said the training would equip them to create enterprise by teaching English Language, Mathematics and other subjects.