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Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian Minister of Education, has called on the Nigeria’s Government to prioritise entrepreneurship, industrialization, and infrastructure development as part of efforts to create sustainable jobs and drive economic growth.
Speaking at the 20th Anniversary’s Public Lecture of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State, with the theme “The Reality of Our Time: Harnessing Human Capital, Technology, and Values for a Sustainable Future”, Ezekwesili emphasised the need for the government at all levels to reduce barriers to business creation by streamlining registration processes, reducing taxes for start-ups, and increasing access to finance for young entrepreneurs.
The former Vice President of the World Bank also advocated expansion of venture capital funding and innovation hubs across African nations to support youth-led enterprises in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and renewable energy.
Ezekwesili highlighted the potentials of the gig economy in creating employment opportunities for young people, citing digital platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and local African start-ups such as Andela and Flutterwave.
To achieve sustainable job creation, she stressed the importance of scaling up industrialisation and infrastructure development in African economies.
She also urged Governments to invest in infrastructure, including power, transportation, and digital connectivity, to facilitate job creation across multiple sectors.
The renowned economist also recommended the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and innovation parks to encourage investment in job-intensive industries like agribusiness, fintech, and renewable energy.
Speaking on the Transformational Education, she said higher education must shift from theoretical, lecture-based models to skills-based learning that would emphasise critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.
She said, “Universities should embed digital skills, AI literacy, and emerging technology training into curricula to align with global job market trends. Partnerships between academia and industry must be strengthened to ensure graduates are equipped with practical, employable skills.”
Earlier, Shadrach Akindele, Professor and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said that the 20th Anniversary of the University was the reflection of what the University had achieved academically, spiritually and scientifically.
Akindele, who noted that the topic of the lecture could not be more timely and relevant, said that it was a call to action and not just intellectual discourse
