Emir Sanusi Calls for Entrepreneurial Mindset Among Nigerian Youths

The Emir of Dutse and Chancellor of Sokoto State University (SSU), Alhaji Hameem Nuhu Sanusi, has urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to adopt entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance as pathways to economic growth and national development.

Sanusi spoke on Friday during the convocation lecture held as part of the university’s combined 4th to 8th convocation ceremonies in Sokoto.

He stressed that Nigeria must move beyond dependence on academic qualifications alone and encourage an entrepreneurial mindset capable of generating employment opportunities and wealth.

According to the monarch, Nigeria can only compete favourably in the global economy when its citizens embrace creativity, identify opportunities, and build sustainable enterprises.

He added that promoting entrepreneurship among youths is essential for harnessing the country’s human and natural resources and positioning Nigeria among leading global economies.

Sanusi expressed confidence that more Nigerians, especially young people, are beginning to embrace innovation and productive ventures that positively impact national development.

The royal father also encouraged women to take advantage of educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, saying their contribution remains vital to the country’s progress.

“What a man can do, a woman can do better. If you educate a woman, you educate an entire community,” he stated.

He described as encouraging the growing number of women graduating from Quranic schools in Jigawa State, noting that the trend holds promise for the nation’s future.

Sanusi further advised female students and professionals to remain focused, resilient, and innovative in pursuing their career goals.

Representing Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the event, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr. Jabir Sani Maihula, reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting education and entrepreneurship.

Maihula said the administration would continue to prioritise investment in education, particularly tertiary institutions, to produce graduates equipped to become employers of labour.

In his convocation lecture, renowned entrepreneur and technocrat Umar Buba Bindir challenged students to use innovation, research, and creativity to address poverty and drive economic development in Sokoto State and Nigeria.

Bindir rejected claims describing Sokoto as Nigeria’s poorest state, insisting that such labels ignore the state’s rich human and natural resources.

He argued that poverty would continue unless students, researchers, and policymakers focused on developing practical solutions capable of creating jobs, wealth, and industrial growth instead of merely acquiring certificates.

The former Secretary to the Adamawa State Government urged undergraduates to identify Sokoto’s comparative advantages through research and convert them into commercially viable businesses, especially within the agricultural sector.

He also emphasised the importance of universities in driving economic growth, citing the University of Cambridge as an example of how research-based institutions contribute to national prosperity.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, Prof. Mohammed Bello Yerima, said the institution was repositioning itself to produce innovators and entrepreneurs through skill-based education.

Yerima disclosed that the university had submitted proposals to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for new programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Entrepreneurship, and Engineering.

He explained that the proposed programmes are intended to prepare graduates with the knowledge and practical skills required to succeed in today’s economy and support Nigeria’s technological advancement.

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