by Jewel Stephen

Renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi,  has called for the extension of National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC) by one year to inculcate entrepreneurship skills in Nigerian young graduates.
 
According to him,  six months out of the proposed two years service scheme should be dedicated to intensive training on job creation and financial sufficiency for the graduates.
 
Utomi opined this while speaking on: “Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Poverty Reduction” at the opening ceremony of the ongoing two-day National Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NSEI) in Lagos on Thursday.
 
Hear him “Anyone that is gainfully employed cannot be easily brainwashed with wicked ideologies fuelling terrorism. Nigeria needs to focus on its natural endowments and core strengths in agriculture in order to become globally competitive,” Utomi said.
 
Supporting the professor,, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the chairman, Dangote Group, highlighted policy inconsistency and inadequate infrastructure as the bane of industrial revolution in the country.
 
He said Nigeria had a huge investment potential, adding that inconsistencies in government policies were limiting the growth of businesses in the nation.
 
Dangote said that entrepreneurship was the key to unlocking economic potential of any nation.
 
He said that there was a need for government to ensure better enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
 
Dangote advised young entrepreneurs not to relent in the pursuit of their visions, even in the face of challenges.

Sola