In this interview with the Communications and Brand Strategy Unit (CBSU), the Coordinator, Student Leadership and Life Success Centre (LSC), Mr. Alex Osagie says that entrepreneurial skills aren’t just a must for students but for everyone in the business of life.
Excerpts:
Our students just finished their exams, what are the ways you think they can develop themselves?
First, congratulations to our students on the successful completion of their exams. It must have been a different and unique experience for them writing exams online, which attests to the fact that things have changed (not changing). Now that they have free time, they can develop themselves in three simple areas, which are commitment to learn, discipline to practice and humility of service.
Commitment to learn: They should engage in reading, watching educational movies, engaging in productive and meaningful conversations and following the right models on social media. All these are part of the learning process.
Discipline to practice: The juice of learning is practice. So as they learn, they should inculcate the discipline of practicing all they learn.
Humility of service: Volunteering gives access to opportunities like nothing else. The humility of service helps in who you are becoming as you serve others.
With happenings in the country, do you sincerely believe the youths are the leaders of tomorrow?
Youths were never the leaders of tomorrow, youths are the leaders of today. I recommend that young people take responsibility for their lives and not wait for the government. You have the power to change the results and outcome of your life, so why not change things instead of waiting to be given opportunity to lead. If every young person takes up the challenge to lead themselves, they will be able to stand up for their rights instead of being used as pawns in the hands of bad leadership.
What is your philosophy of leadership?
My philosophy of leadership is simple, “lead by example”. One must become the change that you wish to see.
Are entrepreneurship skills a must have for students?
Entrepreneurial skills isn’t just a must for students, it is a must for everyone. In today’s world of work especially in third world countries where the take home pay doesn’t take anyone home, the option to be an entrepreneur is non-negotiable. For students it is necessary because it can help them have options and choices for the life they want to live. If COVID didn’t teach any lesson, it taught salary earners a big lesson that will never be forgotten, but for the entrepreneur, he has his destiny in his own hands.
So if you are a student in school or a student at life, you must equip yourself with entrepreneurial skills. Even if you want to be a full career person, there are basic entrepreneurial skills you will need to possess, like selling skills, presentation/public speaking skills, budgeting skills, planning and execution skills etc. In the business of life, it is skills that pay bills.