The Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Adebooye, has challenged Nigerian students to harness their creativity and talents within Nigeria rather than pursuing uncertain opportunities abroad, stating that Nigeria offers better prospects for success than countries like the United States and Canada.
Speaking at the 2025 Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovation Training Programme held at the university's Osogbo campus on Friday, Professor Adebooye described Nigeria as a land of abundant opportunities that requires innovative thinking to explore.
"Nigeria is a land of opportunities for everyone. It only requires identifying your area of strength, building on it, and becoming successful. Once you can think out of the box, you achieve success in Nigeria better than in the United States of America or Canada," he emphasized.
Brain Drain Concerns
The Vice-Chancellor expressed deep concern over the growing trend of established professionals abandoning promising careers in Nigeria for menial jobs abroad, a phenomenon commonly referred to as 'japa' in local parlance.
"It pained me to see professionals, managers of businesses escape the shores of the country to take up jobs that took away their dignity," Professor Adebooye lamented, questioning the wisdom of highly qualified Nigerians leaving lucrative positions such as bank or enterprise managers to become support staff in foreign countries.
He emphasized that the solution to Nigeria's challenges lies in applying knowledge locally, developing innovative ideas, and contributing to nation-building rather than emigrating.
"If that is the way we are thinking as Nigerians, then we have a problem. We should use the knowledge we have gained to build this nation by identifying that single idea, blow it up, and make a living from it," he added.
Entrepreneurship as a Solution
The keynote speaker at the event, Dr. Dayo Sobowale from the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, highlighted the importance of combining vocational training with business acumen to create sustainable enterprises.
Dr. Sobowale noted that practical entrepreneurial knowledge would help graduates create job opportunities rather than depend on limited vacancies in the job market.
"Vocational skills alone are not sufficient; the ability to manage, market and expand a business is what makes the difference between self-employment and wealth creation," he explained.
Dr. Adepeju Adigun, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies at UNIOSUN, revealed that the university has integrated entrepreneurship training into its curriculum to equip students with practical skills for life after graduation.
"We are committed to producing job creators rather than job seekers," she affirmed, underscoring the institution's dedication to addressing unemployment through education.
The entrepreneurship program at UNIOSUN represents a growing trend among Nigerian universities to prepare graduates for the realities of the job market by fostering innovation and self-reliance.
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