In Nigeria and across the vast expanse of Africa, the dawn of a new era in education is emerging—one that champions the spirit of entrepreneurship from the very corridors of primary schools.
In a continent teeming with untapped potential and vibrant creativity, initiatives to instill entrepreneurial skills in young minds are gaining momentum, heralding a transformative shift in how children engage with learning and envision their future roles in society.
In bustling Nigerian cities like Lagos and Abuja, as well as rural communities nestled amidst sprawling landscapes, educators are pioneering innovative approaches to education that go beyond traditional pedagogies.
At the forefront of this movement are programs designed to nurture the entrepreneurial mindset in primary and junior secondary school children, equipping them with the tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex and dynamic world.
In Nigeria, initiatives such as Catch Them Young Entrepreneurship by BMI-CTY are empowering primary and junior school students to unleash their potential as future business leaders and change-makers.
BMI-CTY stands for Business matters incubators-catch them young.
Through a curriculum that combines practical business skills with hands-on experiences, children are introduced to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship—from ideation and market research to product development and financial management.
By fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, BMI-CTY is sowing the seeds of innovation that will drive economic growth and social development in Nigeria and beyond.
“We are innovating ways of integrating entrepreneurship into academic curriculums for basic education. The initiative provides students with the required entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed as next-gen nation builders,” Nnamdi Unachukwu, Chairman of BMI-CTY, told journalists at a press conference.
According to the chairman, The group of researchers of BMI-CTY, adopted a research approach and after 2years of hard work developed an inclusive methodology for teaching entrepreneurship education in Nigeria.
He said the group consists of experienced educators, successful entrepreneurs with many years of experience, IT experts, experienced researchers, and management consultants.
“They have developed a six-sense approach that has resource materials such as Textbooks, Workbooks, Discussion books, Cartoon series, practical books, video-recorded teachings and gaming that suit the young learners.
“Early learning is always a motivation for acquiring behaviors and habits since learning modifies behavior, cognitive, motor, and sensory levels, integrating changes in our values and attitudes.
“The significance of fostering a mindset of innovation, creativity, and problem-solving among students is beckoning in Nigeria and cultivating entrepreneurial skills and mindset in a child is easier. It makes the child creative, innovative, risk-taking and wealth-builder,” he added.
The impact of entrepreneurship education extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the trajectory of children’s lives and influencing the future trajectory of entire nations.
By equipping primary school students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world, Nigeria and Africa are laying the foundation for a new era of innovation, prosperity, and opportunity.
As these young entrepreneurs grow and flourish, they will not only transform their own lives but also contribute to the collective advancement of their communities, their countries, and the continent as a whole.
Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Lagos Business School and a certified Management consultant, said this initiative would foster proactiveness in the children and help build future employment in the country.
According to her, inculcating entrepreneurial skills in children would ease dependence on job seeking and create a robust local economy.
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