JAN to Strengthen Entrepreneurship Training in Schools

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to equipping teachers with practical tools for entrepreneurship education as it hosted the 2025 SET4LYF National Convening in Lagos.

Themed: “Teaching Entrepreneurship with a Focus on Teachers,” the high-level engagement brought together key stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), state ministries of education, and the private sector.

The event sought to deepen conversations on how teachers can nurture creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking in classrooms nationwide.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Dr. Salisu Shehu, the Council’s Director of Educational Research, Dr. Olakunle Akinsola, described teachers as catalysts in building a new generation of job creators and innovators.

He noted that empowering teachers remains central to transforming the education system and equipping young people with problem-solving and resilience skills needed for the future world of work.

“When we empower teachers, we empower an entire generation,” Dr. Shehu said. “There is an urgency for us educators to empower our teachers.”

A plenary session titled “Teachers as Catalysts for Entrepreneurship Education” featured robust discussions on the pivotal role of teachers in driving innovation from within the school system. Participants agreed that teachers are the foundation of entrepreneurial education, often serving as the first innovators their students encounter—constantly adapting lessons, creating new ideas, and inspiring curiosity with limited resources.

Through its SET4LYF (School-to-Work Educational Transition for Long-Term Youth Fulfilment) initiative, JAN continues to equip teachers with the skills and frameworks to link classroom learning with real-world opportunities.

As part of outcomes from the convening, JAN announced plans to release a communiqué developed by a Technical Working Group. The document will provide actionable strategies for integrating entrepreneurship education into Nigeria’s national curriculum and strengthening collaboration across education and industry sectors.

JAN reiterated its openness to partnerships with institutions and individuals willing to advance entrepreneurship education across the country, emphasizing that sustainable transformation in the education system depends on empowering teachers to lead innovation.