Bukky Ayoade, the Relationships Manger at the Netherlands Business school, Abuja in this interview speaks to Blessing Ukemena about how attending a business school is best for anyone who wants to be one step ahead in this competitive age.
How do you define the business school?
We are the alternative, we offer “excitingly different executive programmes” – our core products are our Executive MBA, Executive DBA & Executive Development programmes (EDPs) all of which carry the intrinsic character of “Action Learning” – which is our differentiation.?
Our programmes are not traditional, they are real life, real time and projects based. They give managers the skills to resolve real organisational problems and proffer solutions to them.
Tell us about the objective of this business school?
Our objective is to provide via The Action Learning Methodology quality, relevant and affordable, internationally-accredited MBA, DBA and other programmes to enhance leadership and management development throughout the world.
Is everyone eligible to attend a business school?
Criteria for admission at BSN are minimum first degree or equivalent qualification and a management position or you could be a business owner.
Do you think that education is a profitable investment?
Absolutely, because via education you gain knowledge which gives the required skills and competencies to be effective in whatever field one has chosen, it helps the students develop in their career paths and as individuals and with the application of what one learns one can bring about organisational change that advances business.?
What is your opinion on the government procedures toward private business participation?
Government approach at the moment is good; we see public-private partnerships which fosters speed in the execution of projects and also attracts foreign investment but more could be done.
Government should come up with policies to encourage business investments in our country. They should create an enabling environment through better infrastructure, culture and promote ethical business culture.
What are the limitations to business education in Nigeria?
A primary factor would be the limited number of quality institutions that deliver business education locally and flexibly; managers are looking for something with a foreign perspective but don’t necessarily want to take two years out of their careers to go abroad.?
Also, full time programmes are not flexible for managers and don’t offer business continuity for employers.? BSN offers a flexible programme that gives managers a European accredited qualification that they can undergo locally here in Nigeria.
Another factor for many is cost and so we would advocate more sponsorship via both the government and private sector to help managers avail themselves of the essential leadership skills required for the 21st century to take businesses and organisations to the next level.
What is your assessment of Nigerians towards business education?
Nigerian managers recognise the need for business education and there is a clamour for it, however, there are some constraints as mentioned previously, …Also government should recognise the value of business education and seek to make it an essential part of their capacity building plans as well as sponsor managers on executive programmes.
Should the youths be encouraged to get business education?
Absolutely, the youths are the future and should be adequately encouraged to get business education. The earlier youth are exposed to business education the sooner they start to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set and realise that not everyone has to follow the corporate line.
Also, a relevant business education at a young age furnishes the individual with necessary leadership skills, they have a good foundation to build upon later in life or their careers.?
Currently education doesn’t focus on skills required on the job or for the “real world”.? BSN plans to embark on a community -social-responsibility (CSR) project that would address this, we will run …..Young Leadership/Entrepreneurial Workshops for two categories of youth, this is planned to start in this first quarter of year 2012:
Students in their penultimate year of university?
Students preparing for university admission (post GCSE).
What other profession would you rather go into?
Women Development and Empowerment.
What would you invest your money on any day?
Capacity building in various areas and Real Estate.
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