Prof. Abubakar has urged that entrepreneurship should be made a compulsory subject for pupils at the foundational level of education, stressing the importance of introducing business skills and creative thinking early in life.

Introducing entrepreneurship from an early stage

She proposed that entrepreneurship training should begin in primary and secondary schools rather than being restricted to higher institutions. According to her, exposing children early to basic business concepts will help them develop innovation, problem-solving abilities, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

This approach is aimed at preparing learners to become self-reliant individuals instead of relying solely on formal employment in adulthood.

Gradual skill development approach

Prof. Abubakar suggested a structured system for teaching entrepreneurship across education levels:

• At the primary level, learners should be introduced to creativity, basic financial awareness, and entrepreneurial thinking
• At the secondary level, students should gain practical knowledge of small business operations and skills development
• At the tertiary level, emphasis should be placed on business creation, management, and innovation

This progressive model is intended to build competence step by step.

Tackling unemployment challenges

The proposal is also linked to efforts to reduce youth unemployment. Entrepreneurship education is widely seen as a way to equip young people with the skills needed to create their own opportunities instead of depending only on government or formal sector jobs.

Prof. Abubakar believes that starting this training early would strengthen students’ ability to think independently and become job creators in the future.

Alignment with education reforms

Her suggestion reflects ongoing discussions in the education sector about strengthening entrepreneurship studies in schools. In many cases, entrepreneurship-related subjects are already being introduced or reinforced as part of efforts to improve students’ practical skills and employability.

Conclusion

Prof. Abubakar’s proposal emphasizes the need to integrate entrepreneurship into the core school curriculum from an early age. She argues that doing so will help raise a generation of innovative and self-sufficient individuals capable of creating employment opportunities and contributing to economic growth.