EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOCUS
I spoke on “Education, Skill Acquisition, and Entrepreneurship Tools for Self-Fulfillment and Community Development
1) There is a need to redefine what we want as a community from our current educational curriculum. Our curriculum is currently tailored to finding jobs rather than solving problems in our communities. Our education is geared towards making us more European and American instead of making us better Africans. An educated Indian remains a better Indian, wearing their traditional clothes and eating with their fingers. They build on what they learned from the British and can independently develop technology and other innovations. An educational system centered on memorization and regurgitation will not develop the mind. Our education must focus on a radical mental shift that aligns with our African reality and fosters a new African identity.
2) Entrepreneurship helps people accomplish tasks they are unwilling, unable, or unskilled to perform, meeting their needs and making a profit in the process. You cannot be a great entrepreneur with pride, intolerance, and disrespectful behavior. Many of our young people lack the humility to start small or the patience to follow due process to build wealth. Growing a business will become increasingly difficult with the temptation of easy money from politics and internet fraud. The moral fabric of our society has been severely damaged. For any young person to avoid get-rich-quick schemes today requires the grace of God. We need to rekindle the spirit of earning wealth through honest means.
3) Community-Initiated Development: Our communities must not wait for government and politicians, as I have said repeatedly. Delta State is blessed with clusters of medium-sized towns that are a maximum of one hour’s drive from each other. Orogun is close to Agbarah, Ughelli, Kokori, Eku, Abraka, Emevor, Ozoro, Ubiaruku, Abbi, and Kwale. This proximity provides a ready market for your products. Communities should deliberately form cooperatives that can produce goods they are known for. I was surprised to learn that many sheep I admired in some communities were collectively owned. This practice can be developed and expanded to include other areas.
4) I noticed many new and beautiful buildings. In the eastern part of Nigeria, many of these buildings would host cottage industries.
5) Our leaders and politicians must deliberately attract development projects to our communities.
6) The obstructive behavior of our youths, who harass investors for development levies, must be stopped.
7) One of the most influential features has been the Orogun Grammar School, founded by Chief Demas Akpore in 1966 when he was 38 years old. Some of the most prominent citizens from within and outside Orogun are products of this great school. We definitely need more enduring legacies in our communities. These might not only be schools, hotels, or fuel stations—which are excellent—but we can also establish foundations and other institutions to engage our youth. I strongly recommend creating a scholarship fund for underprivileged and brilliant students. I also suggested a mentorship scheme for serious-minded and trainable youths.
I remain Dr. Charles Apoki
