16th September, 2011
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure in Lagos State, Engineer Wasiu Olatunde Olokunola, has advised young engineering graduates to reduce their dependency on white collar jobs by embracing programmes and activities that will empower them to be self reliant.
Delivering the year 2011 lecture on “Entrepreneurship Opportunities in the Civil Engineering Profession’’ organised by the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers in Lagos, Olokunola said the need for a new orientation was necessary in view of the limited white collar jobs.
He stated that engineering offers vast opportunities across its wide spectrum of specialization, adding that the Nigerian environment also offers the engineers more opportunities that were yet to be tapped.
He also called for a review of the school curriculum to include courses in entrepreneurship, adding that, “Techniques, Attitude and Politics (TAP)†are the critical factors for the success of any enterprise.
Olokunola, while stating the condition for a successful entrepreneur, said that creativity and innovation should be matched with general management skills, business knowhow and networks.
All these, he said, were necessary to be successful as entrepreneur.
The highlight of the event was the conferment of the Fellowship of the Institution on the Permanent Secretary and other distinguished individuals.