President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked Nigerian Universities to speed up work on the comprehensive review of curriculum of all academic programmes in Nigerian Universities to place premium on entrepreneurship education for self-employment and national development.

President Buhari stated this in a message to the 11th Convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.

President Buhari, said it is pertinent to restate that nation’s educational curriculum begets towards placing emphasis in entrepreneurship education.

“It is pleasing to note that National Universities Commission is about to conclude the comprehensive review of the curricula of all programmes in our universities placing premium on entrepreneurship. This we all know is a driver to increase productivity and reduction in unemplyment figure amongst others,” he said.

The President Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Education David Gende, said the Federal Government through various interventions had created enabling environment to support the drive. 

He maintained that his administration is committed to making education affordable to all through the open distance learning, saying, “In this connection the national policy on education has provide for lifelong learning that transcends all barriers through open and distance learning.”

“It is our hope that our graduates will utilise this opportunities to embrace all the various programmes that have been put in place. I salute the effort of the NOUN management and governing council for making sure that government funds released to university is judiciary utilised in erecting top class facilities as exemplified in the campus,” he said.

In his remark, the Pro-Chancellor, NOUN, Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola commended the president for assenting to the National Open University Amendment Act.

He said: “This singular act of Mr. President did not only elevate the legal status and the quality of the delivery system of NOUN. NOUN has slightly over 1,500 of its law grandaunts attending the Nigeria Law School and reports reaching us have it that our students are performing excellently.”

He said this, no doubt erases the negative perception by the general public that Open and Distance education is inferior to the conventional face to face University education.

Speaking, Vice Chancellor, Prof Olufumi Peters said a total number of 22,250 graduating students who have passed the prescribed examinations and have accordingly been adjudged worthy in character and learning to receive their degrees across various disciplines.

“At the undergraduate level, a total of 16,679 students are graduating, out of which 69 students are in the First-Class Division: 4,327 students in the 2nd Class Upper Division: 9,499 students in the Second Class Lower Division and 2,700 students in the Third Class Division and 84 students with pass degrees,” he said.

He said the global economy is in utter crisis and for new graduates and this causes anxiety instead of hope, joy and confidence.

The VC asked the graduates not to despair, saying, “I am of the firm believe that those who will make it in the new normal are those who have the benefit of the training that you have received. The circumstances may be challenging, but I encourage you to remain resolute because you have been empowered with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.”