Professor Seth Akutson, Director, Entrepreneurship Research and Development Centre, Kaduna State University, said on Thursday that promoting digital and social media marketing was critical to Nigeria’s entrepreneurship development.
Mr Akutson stated this in Kaduna at the opening of a Validation Workshop on Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship Modules, held at the university’s entrepreneurship centre.
He explained that the huge opportunities in digital and social media marketing have remained untapped in the country.
Mr Akutson, who described digital and social media as veritable tool in promoting businesses, ideas and creativity, said that existing and upcoming entrepreneurs must exploit the opportunities offered by the platforms.
According to him, entrepreneurs in the country make little or no use of social media platforms due to lack of knowledge on how best to use the platforms to promote their businesses.
He said that because of the current focus on entrepreneurship in Nigerian universities, it became necessary for student to be equipped with knowledge and skills of digital and social media marketing to help them become better entrepreneurs.
“The National University Commission (NUC) is responsible for developing all curriculum for Nigerian Universities.
“Although NUC has produced a lecture manual on entrepreneurship in Nigeria, the document has completely left out digital and social media marketing, a crucial component for entrepreneurship development.
“This is why with support from the United State Embassy, we are currently developing a curriculum for the teaching of digital and social media marketing as a course in Nigerian universities, “he said.
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He said the process has gone far, adding that the workshop with participants from universities across the country, was organised to validate the draft document of the digital marketing and entrepreneurship modules.
Also speaking, the Chairman, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Kaduna Chapter, Mr Akogwu John, said that marketing was crucial to the survival of any business, adding that no entrepreneur would progress without effective marketing.
John described digital and social media marketing as effective tools in modern marketing which entrepreneurs must utilise.
The Vice Chancellor of KASU, Prof Muhammad Tanko, thanked the U. S. Embassy for supporting the process of developing the curriculum.
Tanko also noted that marketing, a significant aspect of entrepreneurship, was usually ignored to the detriment of businesses.
“One may have the best services and products, but not much could be achieved without good marketing strategy.
“Therefore, developing a curriculum to teach students and stakeholders how to use the digital and social media platforms to market is crucial in ensuring that students get the best, ” he said.
NAN
