The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced training of teachers on entrepreneurship and skills acquisition to produce the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
During the opening of a two-day training in Abuja on Monday, Dr Danlami Hayyo, Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, declared that the era of rote learning was over.
Speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Joy Okeke, Hayyo said the FCT was repositioning its education system to produce students who think independently, create confidently, and compete globally.
“The demands of the 21st century require learners who are adaptable, entrepreneurial, and capable of solving real-world problems. Traditional academic theory alone can no longer prepare students for the realities ahead,” he said
According to Hayyo, the fourth industrial revolution has fundamentally altered how people live and work, which necessitated a reimagination of education itself.
He stressed that the transformation must begin with teachers; the foundation of the education system, noting that the current training was part of a strategic and ongoing reform agenda.
This capacity-building effort builds upon a previous programme for Principals and Vice Principals Academics, which prepared school leadership to champion entrepreneurship education at the policy level.
Hayyo said that the focus has shifted to the classrooms, where teachers are armed with strategies and tools to infuse entrepreneurial thinking into everyday teaching.
Speaking earlier at the event, the Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr Mohammed Ladan, described the initiative as “transformative”, saying that it was designed to equip teachers with vital 21st-century skills and strengthen collaboration between education, communities, and industries.
“Education should not exist in isolation. “Our inclusion of artisans, entrepreneurs, and business mentors reflects a commitment to bridge the gap between the classroom and the marketplace,” Ladan said
He added that the evolving global economy demands more than academic knowledge — it demands creativity, critical thinking, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
“Our goal is to produce students who will not only seek jobs but also create them,” Ladan stressed.
While highlighting the importance of practical exposure, he noted that students would benefit from hands-on learning, apprenticeships, and real-world experiences made possible through community partnerships.
One of the participants, Mr Paul Bingil of Government Secondary School, Pegi, praised the initiative, saying it would provide teachers with fresh concepts and methodologies to make learning more engaging and relevant for students.
She said, “it will equip teachers with new concepts and methodology to make teaching and learning interesting”.
