The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has commenced a national critique and validation exercise for the National Diploma (ND) Entrepreneurship curriculum.

The four-day workshop, which is taking place in Kaduna, is aimed at reviewing the existing curriculum and ensuring that students receive the practical knowledge and skills needed to establish, manage and grow sustainable businesses.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said the review must address the opportunities available to students after completing the ND Entrepreneurship programme.

Bugaje said the participants would also have to determine suitable higher education pathways for ND Entrepreneurship graduates seeking to further their education.

A major issue for consideration, he said, is whether graduates should move into existing Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, including Business Administration, or whether Nigeria needs a dedicated HND Entrepreneurship programme.

“These are questions that this workshop has to answer.”

He called on participants to concentrate on creating a curriculum that delivers meaningful outcomes while preparing graduates to play effective roles in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Bugaje explained that the ND Entrepreneurship programme is different from Business Administration and Marketing, although some elements of those disciplines could be incorporated into the curriculum.

According to him, entrepreneurship education should give young Nigerians the capacity to understand the process of building businesses from the ground up and developing them into sustainable ventures.

He added that students should be exposed to areas including financial management, business operations and other essential components of enterprise development.

The NBTE Executive Secretary said the national critique and validation exercise was necessary to subject the curriculum to critical assessment and make it more relevant to Nigeria’s economic requirements.

He also commended SMEDAN for its support, describing the collaboration as important to the development of a stronger and more relevant ND Entrepreneurship programme.

Bugaje urged resource persons and other stakeholders participating in the workshop to bring their expertise to the discussions, noting that their recommendations would have an impact on the quality and relevance of the final curriculum.

Representing the SMEDAN Director-General, Mr Charles Odii, Dr Funto Babarinde said the agency remained committed to strengthening technical and vocational education through strategic partnerships.

Odii said validating quality educational frameworks would help Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system meet global standards while also addressing the needs of local industries.

He described the workshop as a platform for experts to debate, critique and formalise educational instruments that could influence the future direction of entrepreneurship training in Nigeria.

According to him, SMEDAN was confident that the exercise would support the emergence of a new generation of skilled professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs across the country.

He also expressed optimism that the four-day engagement would deepen collaboration between education providers and institutions responsible for enterprise development.

The Founder and Rector of Kaduna Business School, Prof. Dahiru Sani, said entrepreneurship education should go beyond classroom theories by providing students with practical competencies.

Sani, a collaborative partner and certified trainer under SMEDAN’s Inspire, Create, Start and Scale (ICSS)framework, said entrepreneurship training should prepare students for the realities involved in starting and sustaining businesses.

He stressed that curriculum development should take into account the requirements of entrepreneurs, employers, financial institutions and the wider economy.

Sani said students should receive practical exposure in areas such as opportunity identification, business planning, financing, innovation, marketing and enterprise management.

He further urged stakeholders to make the revised curriculum flexible enough to accommodate emerging businesses, new technologies and changing market conditions.

According to Sani, stronger cooperation between NBTE, SMEDAN and industry practitioners would help close the gap between entrepreneurship education and enterprise development.

He expressed optimism that the exercise would result in a curriculum capable of nurturing innovative graduates who can create jobs and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

At the conclusion of the four-day engagement, stakeholders are expected to submit recommendations focused on strengthening the curriculum, improving progression opportunities for graduates and enhancing its practical relevance to Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Source: MSME Africa Online