The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has honoured Dr. Christopher Friday Okongko with the Humanitarian Icon Award during the NANS Entrepreneurial Conference held at Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus.
Dr. Okongko, who served as the Guest Speaker at the conference, delivered a thought-provoking lecture on “The Role of Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy in Navigating the Post-Graduate Economy.” The conference was themed “After School, What Next?”
In his address, he noted that Nigeria’s post-graduate economy is increasingly challenging due to rising unemployment and limited job opportunities for graduates.
He cited reports indicating that Nigerian tertiary institutions produce between 500,000 and 600,000 graduates annually, a figure the economy struggles to absorb.
Dr. Okongko also referenced the recent graduation of about 3,836 students from Akwa Ibom State University, noting that many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because their skills often do not align with labour market demands.
According to him, the Nigerian educational system still focuses heavily on theoretical knowledge while paying insufficient attention to practical and entrepreneurial skills.
He explained that social entrepreneurship offers a viable pathway for graduates to tackle societal problems while creating sustainable businesses and employment opportunities.
Dr. Okongko described social entrepreneurship as the use of business principles to solve social problems such as poverty, poor healthcare, and illiteracy while prioritizing social impact over profit.
He further outlined different models of social entrepreneurship including community, non-profit, transformational and global social ventures.
