BMI CTY’s Six Senses Approach to Entrepreneurship Education Aims to Build Future Leaders

BMI CTY initiative, a program dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurial skills in young Nigerians held a few days ago at the prestigious, Oriental Hotel, Lagos. It was themed “Incubating African Kid Entrepreneurs for Next Generational Impact,” and targets children aged 7 to 14. Engineer Nnamdi Unachukwu, Chairman of BMI-CTY, spearheaded the event, emphasizing its importance as a significant milestone in addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

Unachukwu highlighted the need for early entrepreneurial education to empower the next generation, believing that equipping young minds with entrepreneurial skills and a growth mindset can drive economic development and innovation in Nigeria. By nurturing young entrepreneurs, the initiative aims to create a future generation capable of tackling socio-economic issues with innovative solutions and leadership.

He further expressed that, “Our initiative calls for significant educational reforms to mold the minds of young Nigerians, particularly those in rural areas. We aim to reduce poverty, fraud, unemployment, and insecurity through entrepreneurship education.”

Central to the initiative is the “Six Senses Approach” to entrepreneurship education, which employs diverse tools to modify behavior, cognitive processes, and values. It fosters self-esteem and self-confidence through textbooks, workbooks, videos, cartoons, practical manuals, and trainer journals. Adding to this he shares that, “These resources are part of our long-term plan to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs over the next 10-15 years.”

Unachukwu emphasized the importance of collaboration with various state agencies, federal and state ministries of education, and the Universal Basic Education Boards across multiple states. The event featured notable insights from experts and stakeholders. Dr. Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Business Innovation Accelerator at Lagos Business School, lauded the initiative, asserting that entrepreneurial education is crucial for fostering self-reliant individuals who can create opportunities rather than solely seeking employment. Babatunde Jimoh, representing the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), highlighted the state’s innovative educational reforms, including the integration of technology into primary education.