Entrepreneurship: Nigerians must think outside the box, says Emir of Dutse
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Emir of Dutse, in Jigawa State, Alhaji Hameem Nuhu Sanusi, has called on Nigerians to think out of the box in promoting entrepreneurship, so as to forge ahead and be at par with their contemporaries across the globe.
Our Correspondent in Sokoto reports that the Emir who is also the Chancellor, Sokoto State University, spoke during the Convocation Lecture as part of the activities lined up for the combined Convocation ceremony of the institution.
He expressed happiness that Nigerians are now waking up but said women must however strive more to take up the challenge.
The Emir said women should be more innovative and pursue their dreams to become successful.
Also speaking, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr Jabir Sani Maihula, who represented Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, reiterated the commitment of the state government to accord top priority to education including entrepreneurship.
Dr Maihula said that the state government has remained committed to the adequate funding of education at all levels, assuring that tertiary education will continue to be accorded top priority.
Also speaking, a technocrat and entrepreneur, Engr. Umar Buba Bindir, charged students to be innovate and creative to lift the state and Nigeria out of poverty.
Bindir, who was the Guest Lecturer, faulted the tag of Sokoto as Nigeria’s poorest state, saying it does not reflect the state’s human and natural resource endowment.
He argued that the narrative of poverty would persist until students, researchers and policymakers move beyond certificates to building solutions that generate wealth and employment.
Dr Bindir, a former Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, urged undergraduates to identify Sokoto’s comparative advantages through research and translate findings into viable enterprises.
He singled out agriculture as low-hanging fruit, challenging soil science students to study the state’s soil profile and recommend crops with the highest yield and market value.
According to him, universities remain the biggest drivers of modern economies, and Nigeria must emulate global models where research directly fuels growth.
Citing Cambridge University as an example, he said the institution contributes over £300 million annually to the UK economy — a figure he put at hundreds of trillions of naira.
“Cambridge University alone contributes more than £300 million to the economy of the country, equivalent to hundreds of trillions of naira,” Bindir stated, adding that Nigeria’s resource base far exceeds Britain’s.
He maintained that with proper harnessing of resources through research, innovation and entrepreneurship, Sokoto and Nigeria could redefine their economic trajectory.
On his part, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Bello Yerima, said the university is pivoting to entrepreneurship education to produce job and wealth creators.
Prof. Yerima disclosed that the university has forwarded new programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Entrepreneurship and Engineering to the National Universities Commission for approval.
