Alabi Advocates Entrepreneurial Leadership for Nigeria's Economy

On October 2, Professor Olatunji John Alabi, a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Strategy at the Federal University Lokoja, delivered the 46th Inaugural Lecture titled “Entrepreneurial Leadership Through Entrepreneurial Education and Employment: Building an Entrepreneurial Economy in a VUCA World” at the Felele campus. He argued that entrepreneurial leadership, driven by education and empowerment, is crucial for Nigeria's economic transformation.

Alabi stressed the need for universities to evolve into entrepreneurial institutions through collaboration among academia, industry, government, and communities, utilizing the Quadruple Helix model to foster innovation and job creation. He discussed the challenges faced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and called for supportive policies, access to finance, and capacity development to enhance their sustainability.

Alabi recommended comprehensive reforms in the education sector, advocating for competency-based education and experiential learning. He urged the government to adopt entrepreneurship as a national development strategy and expand access to finance through various innovative mechanisms.