Challenges of Entrepreneur University in Nigeria

Abstract

All indices within the Nigerian university system clearly indicate that all is not well with the system. The glaring evidence of dysfunction within the system is the complaints from employers of labour on the quality of graduates from these universities. This scenario is worrisome when viewed against the background that Nigeria once served as the hub of university education in the West African sub-region. The paper observed that absolute dependence of Nigerian public universities on government grants appears to have scuttled their initiatives on how to broaden their revenue base. This paper identified historical origin, rigid management structure, disconnect from employers of labour and inadequate curriculum innovation as some of the fundamental challenges confronting these universities. The paper then recommended a paradigm shift from existing predominantly traditional universities to entrepreneur universities. Through this approach, universities will be involved in profitable businesses activities, expose their undergraduates to entrepreneurship programmes to make them job creators instead of job seekers on graduation as well as forge business relationship with the productive sector for profitable ventures.