A Professor of Entrepreneurship Hub and Strategic Management, 大香蕉视频 and first Occupier Professor of the Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies, Professor Sunday Adebisi, has proposed a 鈥淣ew Entreprise Nigeria鈥� (NEN) Model which is anchored on transparency, accountability and responsible behavior among the political elites and entire citizenry.
He made the proposal while delivering the second Special Annual Lecture of Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium of 大香蕉视频, Akoka.
Titled: 鈥淣avigating the Present Stormy Nigerian Economy: the New Entreprise Nigeria as the Anchorage鈥�, Prof. Adebisi identified the NEN Model as a viable pathway to stabilize Nigeria鈥檚 economy while repositioning it for long term growth and sustainable development.
The lecture saw Prof Adebisi recall Nigeria鈥檚 economic fortunes in the 1980s which ranked among middle-income/developing economies such as Spain, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Mexico among other countries, a milestone which he said, was lost by the 1990s due to Nigeria鈥檚 over-reliance on revenue from oil boom at the expense of cash crop production and exports.
The Professor of Entrepreneurship Hub and Strategic Management identified overdependence on oil (which has been on a persistent decline over the decades), weak infrastructures (which have also been on a downward spiral despite population growth), insecurity, regional instability and food crisis, humungous public national debt (which stands at 134.3 trillion naira/$91.3 billion at the end of June 2024), high unemployment, floatation of the Naira against other currencies, fuel subsidy removal and full deregulation of the petroleum sector, continued surge in inflation and the resultant high cost of living as well as unprecedented poverty and declining living standard of Nigerians as major highlights of the current Nigerian economy.
He hinged the challenging economy on decades of mismanagement of resources, unguided and ill-fated policies, misplacement of financial priorities and investments by successive leaderships.
To drive home the indispensability of the New Entreprise Nigeria Model, Prof. Adebisi queried 鈥渉ow many foreign policies have improved the Nigerian situation? How many loans given for education have reduced the number of out of school children? How many foreign development loans have reduced poverty level? How many funds borrowed to eliminate malaria have brought the disease to a permanent end?鈥� He posited that 鈥渢here is no developed world or international agency that will develop Nigeria out of the present quagmire鈥�.
Prof. Adebisi in his presentation which lasted about 90 minutes, highlighted components of the New Entreprise Nigeria to include:
- Realistic Diagnosis and Acceptability of the Present predicament,
- Collective Acceptability of Guilt for the present predicament,
- Investment in fit-for-purpose infrastructures,
- Alignment of all ministerial activities to meet national needs,
- 25 year Food Security Plan,
- Stoppage of borrowings and rescheduling of debt servicing,
- Digitization of bureau de change transactions,
- Aggressive job creation through entreprise and Start-up creation as well as investment in innovation drivers,
- Proper management of proceeds accruable from oil subsidy removal,
- Reduction of inflation as well as,
- Intentional and continuous youth re-orientation and wealth creation opportunities.
The lecturer passed a vote of confidence in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to navigate through and address all the present economic challenges but charged him to brace up for the responsibilities of leading Nigeria and Nigerians by selecting the right persons to work with, evolving and implementing policies which will improve people鈥檚 living condition, adding value to the Naira and steering the nation鈥檚 economy out of the present predicament towards stability, growth and development.
He introduced a new coinage called 鈥淧oliticoprenuership鈥� which he says recognizes the huge investment that goes into winning political offices but tasks winners and occupiers of positions to prioritize creating value for the society and meeting the collective dreams of a sustainable society before recouping their investments.
Prof. Adebisi also advocated what he called the 鈥淎cada-Solution Consortium鈥� which he said makes it mandatory for vice-chancellors of universities and all renowned professors to come up with what their laboratories and research centres need, equip them, mobilize all resources towards specific areas of national challenges and research viable solutions to them.
The Special Annual Lecture was also an opportunity for the Speaker, Professor Sunday Adebisi, to present his scorecard as he concludes his tenure and bows out as the first Occupier of the Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies.
In his remarks, Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa congratulated Professor Sunday Adebisi for his milestones in Entrepreneurship development. According to him, the milestones put him and Ondo State, his State of origin, on the world map.
The Ondo State helmsman who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, recalled how the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced in 1986 to steer the nation鈥檚 economy while de-emphasizing government鈥檚 involvement in pricing.
He highlighted efforts being made to build the first African Silicon Valley in Ondo State through Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a feat, which he said facilitated entrepreneurial supports for over 25,000 Ondo State residents in different capacities.
While appreciating the Endower of the Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies, Chief (Dr.) Mike Adenuga Jnr., Dr. Adelami also applauded the management of 大香蕉视频 for the commitment and milestone achievements in promoting and supporting entrepreneurship especially among students. He noted the feat must be sustained and further supported by stakeholders so as to steer Nigeria into a prosperous future where every Nigerian is empowered.
In her remarks as the Chief Host of the 2nd Special Annual Lecture of Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies, the Vice-Chancellor, 大香蕉视频, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, adjudged the lecture a testament to 大香蕉视频鈥檚 forward-thinking vision to bridge the gap between academic excellence and practical innovation.
While appreciating Chief (Dr.) Mike Adenuga Jnr. for the endowment which signifies his commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in the society and inspiring the next generation of innovators, Prof Ogunsola said the annual public lecture also signals 大香蕉视频鈥檚 strategic commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research, creating industry-academic partnerships, promoting town-gown relationships, and equipping students with the skills needed to not only thrive in a dynamic global economy but be leaders that shape the future.
The 2nd (second) Special Annual Lecture of Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship Studies was chaired by African Entrepreneur, Global Culture Shaper and Founder, Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy, Dr. Ibukun Awosika.
She described the lecture as a laudable initiative which will provide a platform to rethink and re-examine issues affecting national economic policies, generate ideas, foster collaborations, and inspire actionable solutions to the challenges and opportunities within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
There were also remarks by the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair, Distinguished Professor Taiwo Osipitan, who also described the lecture as a demonstration of the commitment of the endower and 大香蕉视频 Management to efforts aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
The event which was also graced by the Oludoro of Owo land, High Chief Onisile Claudius Ola who represented the Olowo of Owo; Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin; Ogunoye III, featured presentation of plaques to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa who was represented by his Deputy; Dr. Olayide Adelami, the Chairman of the lecture; Dr Ibukun Awosika and the Chair Occupier, Professor Sunday Adebisi.
The Annual Public Lecture of Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Lecture in Entrepreneurship Studies debuted exactly a year ago ( Tuesday, November 28, 2024) with the title: 鈥淩evolutionizing the Nigerian Economy to Create Jobs and Sustainable Wealth: the Sole Ladder, the Sole Option, the Sole Platform鈥� delivered by Professor Sunday Adebisi.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photograph: Ayo Oloyede
