Bingham University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Kuje Ayuba, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to embrace innovation and emerging technologies as essential tools for overcoming socio-economic challenges and achieving sustainable development.
Ayuba made the call during the maiden International Conference on Entrepreneurial and Managerial Innovation for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (ICEMISD 2026), hosted by the Department of Entrepreneurship under the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences at Bingham University, Karu.
The conference, which was held under the theme, “Reimagining Entrepreneurial and Managerial Innovation for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development Beyond the 21st Century,” attracted scholars, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry stakeholders who examined strategies for addressing modern economic and developmental issues.
Addressing participants, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the rapidly evolving global landscape requires fresh thinking and the adoption of transformative technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain and renewable energy solutions.
“The traditional business-as-usual approach is no longer sufficient to address contemporary challenges,” he said.
According to Ayuba, higher institutions must reposition themselves to prepare graduates for future economic realities by nurturing innovators and entrepreneurs capable of creating jobs rather than seeking employment.
He pointed to the university’s Centre for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership as a platform designed to provide students with practical skills and competencies needed to succeed in a technology-driven economy.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Obadiah Ayok Daboh, described the conference theme as relevant in view of rapid technological changes and shifting economic trends.
He encouraged participants to actively contribute to discussions and forge partnerships that would generate practical solutions for national development.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Felicia Eze, reiterated the department’s commitment to developing entrepreneurial and managerial capacities among students to foster innovation, value creation and effective problem-solving.
She highlighted the department’s academic offerings and future expansion initiatives aimed at deepening entrepreneurship education and improving graduates’ employability prospects.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Edward Perekebina Agbai of Emmanuel University, Raleigh, North Carolina, urged stakeholders to rethink conventional business models in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic progress.
He presented a four-pillar framework centred on purpose-driven value creation, systems thinking, inclusive governance and learning ecosystems.
According to him, businesses must move beyond profit-making to deliver measurable social and environmental impact.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dabo Group, Dr. Williams Dabo, encouraged young Nigerians to see entrepreneurship as a viable route to wealth generation and economic advancement.
Drawing lessons from his personal journey, he advised students to invest their talents and energy in ventures capable of creating value and generating employment opportunities.
In a related presentation, Managing Director of Dabo Group, Dr. Esther Williams, maintained that access to significant capital should not be regarded as a prerequisite for starting a business.
She emphasized the importance of skills acquisition, resilience and strategic partnerships, adding that many successful enterprises emerged from innovation and determination rather than financial strength.
Security expert and Managing Director of Executive Guards Ltd, Dr. Edinen Usoroh, examined the impact of insecurity on entrepreneurship and investment across the country.
He identified terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime and political instability as major obstacles to innovation and economic growth. However, he noted that advances in fintech, agritech, renewable energy and digital services could help address some of these challenges.
Lead paper presenter, Professor Helen Afang Andow of Kaduna State University, advocated integrated innovation policies that connect finance, education and institutional frameworks to support sustainable development.
She said coordinated efforts across sectors would be essential for driving long-term economic growth and improving national competitiveness.
Similarly, Professor Mbang Udiak Bassey of Arthur Jarvis University urged universities to go beyond traditional skills acquisition by promoting what he termed “entrepreneurial intelligence.”
He proposed a five-dimensional framework comprising financial, leadership, industry, technological and soft-skills intelligence, while also calling for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, increased practical training and improved evaluation mechanisms.
Participants at the conference unanimously stressed the importance of innovation-driven policies, deeper stakeholder collaboration and sustained investment in entrepreneurship as critical ingredients for achieving sustainable socio-economic development in Nigeria.
