Don tasks govt on entrepreneurship development

A professor of Development Economics at the University of Abuja, Prof. Sarah Olanrewaju Anyanwu who is also the Head of Department of Economics in the institution, has called on the government at all levels, Nigerians as well as organized private sector to always gear towards promoting entrepreneurial activities in the country.

Prof. Anyanwu, who made the call while presenting a paper titled, “Entrepreneurship: A veritable Tool for Fostering Economic Development in Nigeria” during the 13th inaugural lecture of the University, further urged government to take the entrepreneurs along in the scheme of things for the sustainable development.

She also urged government to incorporate entrepreneurship studies in the curricular of both primary and secondary schools in order to encourage the young and future entrepreneurs on how to handle their businesses in all ramifications.

According to her, “entrepreneurs need knowledge and knowledge can be acquired through education. Entrepreneurial abilities are products of education. Nigeria should invest strategically in education so that her human capital development can be developed.

Prof. Anyanwu also called on the federal government to offer incentives that foster entrepreneurship by establishing a framework that encourages the funding of new ventures and their sustainability.

“The government needs to partner with financial institutions in the country in order to reduce the risk as well as make available other sources of assistance to entrepreneurs. Strengthening financial support for SMEs in Nigeria, like in many other African countries is crucial”, she added.

She said that the government of the day needs to arrest the problems of dilapidated infrastructural facilities such as power sector, water, roads, and railways as well as give adequate attention to the security, so as to improve entrepreneurship and economic development in the nation.

She pleaded with the women across the country to engage themselves in entrepreneurship, so as to be empowered economically in the society.

In an interview, the minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, said that his leadership would continue to motivate small and medium entrepreneurs for economic development.

The minister said that the federal government would not hesitate to provide an enabling environment for the aspirations of the businessmen as well as the people of Nigeria.

On his part, the vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Michael Adikwu, noted that entrepreneurship could help the national economy to be improved as well as generate job opportunities for youths in Nigeria.