WISE Champions Youth Entrepreneurship, Urges National Policy on School-Based Enterprises
In celebration of the 2025 World Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Day, Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE) took bold steps to spotlight student-led entrepreneurship and advocate for the integration of school enterprises into Nigeria’s national education policy.
Held on June 27, in line with the United Nations’ recognition of SMEs as catalysts for innovation and employment, the event brought to life WISE’s deep commitment to practical learning through its flagship initiatives: the WISE Farm Enterprise, WISE Financial Literacy Centre, and WISE Agroforestry Centre.
Empowering Students through Enterprise
From fish farming to financial planning, WISE students are not just studying entrepreneurship—they are living it. One of the most inspiring voices of the day came from Miss Jones, an SSS 1 student and the CEO of WISE Enterprise. “We need to encourage more student-led initiatives in schools and provide support to help build the next generation of entrepreneurs,” she said.
Jones praised Mrs. Elizabeth Idehen, the school’s enterprise facilitator, for her leadership in helping students acquire hands-on skills in business development, savings culture, and sustainability. Thanks to her guidance, students have been able to apply their knowledge in real-world settings—running mini businesses and contributing to their local economy.
From the Classroom to the Marketplace
WISE’s school-led projects demonstrate the real impact of enterprise education. The WISE Farm Enterprise teaches students fish and crop farming techniques, while the Financial Literacy Centre equips them with budgeting, savings, and investment skills. The Agroforestry Centre integrates environmental sustainability with economic thinking.
“These initiatives are more than school projects,” said School Director Kabiru Abass. “In this small but powerful corner of our school, something is growing—not just fish, but opportunity. We are not just workers, we are entrepreneurs building a future together.”
He added, “This farm helps us feed our families and learn new skills. We hope to inspire others to start something soon.”
A Call for National Integration
The event also served as a platform to call on government and education policymakers to formalize student entrepreneurship within the national curriculum. WISE’s leadership argued that the benefits of enterprise learning—job readiness, financial literacy, and confidence—are too important to leave to chance.
“There’s urgent need for a national framework that supports and standardizes school-based enterprise programs,” said Mrs. Idehen. “When students run businesses, they’re not just preparing for the future—they’re creating it.”
This call echoes the vision of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), which emphasize the importance of youth skills and lifelong learning opportunities.
Building a Generation of Change-Makers
Students who participated in the enterprise programs shared stories of growth and empowerment. “This shop started small, but it’s helping us to save money wisely,” one said. “Through financial literacy, we’ve learned how to invest and grow our business step by step. We’re not just selling goods—we’re building confidence, one customer at a time.”
WISE’s approach demonstrates how student enterprise can shift the education narrative from certificate-focused learning to skill-based empowerment. The model is both scalable and urgent in a country with high youth unemployment and a growing demand for entrepreneurial solutions.
Abass concluded, “SMEs matter to Nigeria because they create jobs and instill job readiness skills. That’s why we’ve embedded enterprise into our school system. We call it school enterprise. Happy World SME Day—from our students, to the nation, to the world.”
