Prof. Amina Bashir of Department of English, Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa, on Thursday in Dutse advised students in the tertiary institutions to engage in entrepreneurship activities. Prof. Amina Who is the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, gave the advice while speaking at an Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) organized for youth in Jigawa state by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD). The Dean explained that the gesture was to avoid being unemployed even after graduation.

According to her, acquiring entrepreneurship skills would equip the students to be self-employed by starting and managing their own businesses, as well as eventually become employers of labour. While point out the importance of small scale businesses and medium enterprises, she noted that they were the bedrock of any economy and acquiring entrepreneurship literacy will assist in tackling unemployment and reduce restiveness among youths through the provision of functional skills.

She also advised the students to engage in various skill acquisition programmes being carried out by various governments and non-governmental organisations in order to be self-reliant, noting that all it takes is determination and perseverance and never to give up; this is because sometimes with small problems you think the world is coming to end. And remember that one important thing about life is that you have to do things for yourself; nobody will do it for you.

While advising the participants about the reality of life, she drew the attention of the participants that white-collar jobs were no longer available, hence the urgent need for them to embrace skills acquisition programs for self-reliance. So the only way out is to equip yourselves with education and training that promotes employment generation and wealth creation.

Taking the participants through her background at the event Malama Amina said she was born in June 1960 to the family of 5 in Fika Local Government present Yobe state and she was the youngest in the family. Professor Amina at her early age attended Central Primary School Guru then proceeded to Saint Patrick Secondary School in Maiduguri and then to Government Girls College Maiduguri where she finished her secondary School education and obtained her first degree at the age of 19.

In his remarks, the CITAD programme coordinator in the state, Mr. Ali Sabo said that the exercise was aimed at enriching the lives of the students through mentorship and inspiration; it’s our belief that through this programme, students will be empowered. CITAD believes that bringing accomplished personalities to interface with young people will surely help in inspiring them to be successful people that society will be proud of.

At the end of the program questions and comments were entertained from the participants.

By
Ali Sabo