The Nigeria chapter of the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI) has launched a mentorship programme in a secondary school in Abuja to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset and encourage them to become future job creators rather than depend solely on government employment.
The initiative was unveiled on Thursday at Government Secondary School Jabi, where students also received educational materials and digital devices to support learning. The programme is part of the organisation’s broader effort to shape the thinking of young Nigerians early and expose them to opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Speaking at the event, the President and Founder of IWFCI Nigeria, Cynthia Ejiroghene Edudje, said the mentorship initiative was designed to guide students while they are still in school and help them begin to see themselves as potential business owners.
“We are trying to coach them young and change the mindset many young Nigerians have of wanting to work only in government organisations immediately after school,” she said.
According to Edudje, many students grow up aspiring to secure employment in major government institutions without considering the possibility of building their own businesses or creating opportunities for others.
She noted that institutions such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are often seen as the ultimate career destinations for many students.
“We want to change the orientation so that they can become employers instead of employees. That is why we want to catch them young and inculcate this mindset now while they are still in school,” Edudje said.
She explained that mentorship would be central to the programme, as students would have the opportunity to interact with experienced professionals who can guide them through important decisions about their education, career path, and personal development.
“Mentorship is very important because it helps guide young people on the right path. Through this programme, we want to mentor them over time and gradually change their mindset,” she added.
Edudje also noted that the initiative is intended to complement government efforts to improve education by providing additional learning materials and resources that can help students perform better academically while also developing practical thinking skills.
The organisation believes that exposing students to entrepreneurial thinking early in life will give them the confidence to explore business ideas and eventually create employment opportunities for others.
Vice Principal of Government Secondary School Jabi, Victoria Wammaka, welcomed the initiative and described it as a timely intervention that would benefit the students.
“I am very happy that this organisation has come to our school. We recently concluded our career day, which focuses on helping students choose subjects that align with their passion,” she said.
Wammaka explained that the mentorship programme would further strengthen the guidance the school already provides to students in choosing career paths that match their interests and abilities.
She also encouraged parents to allow their children pursue careers they genuinely care about rather than forcing them into professions that may not align with their passions.
“Sometimes parents want their children to study certain professions without asking what the child truly wants to become. When a child studies something without passion, it can lead to frustration later in life,” she said.
