Federal Polytechnic Oko Rector Urges Youths to Shun Cyber Crimes, Embrace Entrepreneurship

By Praise Chinecherem

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Engr. Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo has advised youth to eschew cyber-crimes and other anti-social vices capable of endangering their lives.

She urged them to rather pursue entrepreneurial skills to make genuine wealth and creat jobs.

Nwafulugo spoke on Tuesday during a two day business summit and entrepreneurship exhibition organised by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) of the institution.

She further charged the youths to develop more interest in learning and developing skills that could create sustainable business ventures capable of gaining them local and international recognition and respect.

National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) recently, had mandated polytechnics in Nigeria to establish functional Entrepreneurship Centres to fill the need for skill acquisition and training in line with Technical and Vocational Education and Training which is the bedrock of Polytechnic education.

Describing entrepreneurship as critical to economic growth and development, the Rector expressed joy that her institution was at the forefront of entrepreneurship innovation.

She said, “We have a working entrepreneurship development centre and it is the goal of my administration to make it formidable.

“The aim of any entrepreneurship scheme is to promote skill acquisition and development which is the root of capacity building and self sustenance”

“One of the values it adds is that it fosters a production based economy instead of consumption based economy. It also tackles poverty extensively by ensuring that a greater number of the adult population are economically engaged in a productive venture.”

A lecturer in the department of Computer Engineering of the institution, Engr. Prince Nwankwo in his paper themed, “Business Management, Expansion and Business plan”, stressed the need for young entrepreneurs to be creative and innovative to solve problems capable of placing food on their tables.

“People are poor because they have no service to render nor products to sell. Change of approach is required if change of result is one’s desire; and as an entrepreneur, customers satisfaction should be your mission” he emphasised.

Earlier, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of the institution, Dr. Ifeoma Ugbo described the workshop cum exhibition as apt, given the high demand of skilled manpower in the country.

“This is the first of its kind because in other previous exhibitions, the centre showcased only products but today we added workshop to expose students on how to write business plan, start up and manage a successful business venture and how to engage on business expansion,” he added.