THE ROLE OF ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

BY

D. S. Yawas

Mechanical Engineering Department

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

ABSTRACT

This paper posits that the growth and development of the engineering entrepreneurship for
sustainable development of Nigeria should not just be a matter of abstract concern to the
government; rather it should proactively seek to protect and nurture it to growth, as a deliberate
and viable economic policy aimed at tapping its vast potential as has been done in many
countries. It is clear that government attention for educated entrepreneurs appears to be
rhetorical since insight into entrepreneurial basis of start-ups is limited and government
measures to promote the entrepreneurship of graduates also appear to be limited in the Nigerian
context. With a population of well over 140 million, numerous institutions of higher learning and
a government committed to local content and the advancement of indigenous engineering and
technology businesses, Nigeria has the potential for successfully building engineering and,
technology capacity if only the right policies are implemented. Such policies will create an
environment/framework that fosters collaboration and creates the right incentives that attract
and reward institutions (private and public) that make engineering and technology Capacity
Building a priority.

INTRODUCTION engineering should be in line with what is

already ordained in nature. It is, therefore,
The story of engineering and technology is,
our duty to improve and further nature our
indeed, the story of mans civilization
immediate environment, making it forever
throughout all the ages, in which man strives
more beautiful by always furthering it
to overcome the obstacles on his way and
without end.
becomes the master of the environment. He
Engineering is a profession in which
learns to live with nature and to understand
knowledge of mathematical and natural
every happening in nature so that
sciences gained by study, experience and

118 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

practice, is applied with judgment to responsible for the massive importation of
develop ways to utilize economically the all kinds of goods into the country while at
materials and forces of nature for the benefit the same time our industrial capacity
of mankind. dwindles and the country is impoverished.
Some of the indicators of our countrys state
That means that engineering should be the
of development are (Adewolu, 2001,
profession which uses the gifts of nature,
Awobamise, 2008):
that is, the gifts of the Almighty without, in
(a) low per capita income of about US$370;
any way, bringing harm to other creatures
(b) about 70% of the population still live
and the environment.
below the poverty line;
(c) manufacturing production accounts for
The role of engineering in the economic
only about 5.5% of GDP;
development of our dear country Nigeria has
(d) the number of the unemployables
assumed an urgent dimension under the on-
increase by the day;
going globalization of the world economies.
(e) the economy is virtually a mono-product
Engineers must appreciate the responsibility
economy based on crude petroleum oil.
thrust on them towards salvaging our local
economy. Engineering is so persuasive that
These development indicators do not present
there isnt a single structure on this earth
a bright picture. The nation is at risk and
that is man made which is not tied directly
education tends to become the risk-
to engineering. Every thing in life has a
generating factor by producing more
touch of engineering input. For a country to
unemployables and job seekers than job
be classified as civilized, advanced or
creators. We have in Nigeria today a
developing it is the ability to harness
situation where trained hands are not
engineering that determines the ranking in
available to take up available skilled jobs,
any of the above categories. Engineering has
particularly in the oil industry, and where
positively transformed every human
available job are too few for job seekers.
endeavour and has provided the lynch-pin
The present Nigeria educational system
for the development of mankind.
operates a supply-drive policy whereby the
output of graduates is dictated by the
It is now clear to all of us that the countrys
production capacity of institutions and not
relative technological backwardness is

119 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

necessarily by the demands of the labour
market. Institutions or rarely consider it their
business to equip their products for self-
employment or help them to find jobs in the
st
labour market. The realities of this 21
century demand that this tradition must be
discarded. Skill-delivery institutions must
become veritable channels for the
production of entrepreneurs. This approach
is the only way we can, recreate a bright
future for our children and childrens
children (Ntim, 1991, Bamiro, 2005).
The importance of Engineering
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship has traditionally been
considered to be part of the business world,
rather than engineering world. Training in
entrepreneurship is usually outside the
curriculum of the school of engineering.
Furthermore many engineering graduates
have found that the current engineering
curriculum does not adequately prepare
them for the non-technical aspect of being
an engineer.
According to a study by Bamiro (2005), the
educational sector in Nigeria has witnessed
rapid growth both in size and output. From
less than 3,000 at independence in 1960 with
a total enrolment of 1.3 million pupils, there
120
are now 44,000 primary schools nationwide
with an enrolment of more that 20 million.
At the secondary school level, the Federal
Ministry of Education (1994) statistics
shows that the numbers of schools rose from
883 in 1960 to 5,868 in 1994 while
enrolment went up from 170,000 to 4.45
million during the same period. At the
tertiary level, there are now more than 148
institutions made up of universities,
polytechnics and colleges of education with
a total population in excess of 800,000.
It is estimated that about 3 million people
enter the labour market in Nigeria every
year, most of these are graduates or dropouts
from the various levels of the educational
sector. It is widely accepted that only about
10% of these graduates find jobs in the
formal sector. The vast majority of the
remaining 90% are usually unemployed or
underemployed for many years, with many
drifting into the informal sector (Bamiro,
2000).
As a result of the above, there have been
calls for clear policy and action on
introducing entrepreneurial education into
the national educational system, particularly
at Technical and Vocational Education
(TVE) level, Technical Colleges and
Polytechnics and also into university
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
curricular. This is to enable trainees be
prepared to go into self-employment and to
start their own business as well as to work
productively in small and medium sized
businesses.
Features that define an entrepreneur
For an entrepreneur to succeed in any
enterprise, he or she must have the following
characteristics or abilities:
identifying opportunities
ability to assemble required resources
for the establishment of the enterprise
(turning opportunities into a business idea)
ability to manage available resources
ability to take risks
ability to endure and forgo immediate
enjoyment for future success
ability to relate positively with workers,
and consumers.
An entrepreneur sees opportunities in a
situation while others do not. Here is an
interesting story that exemplifies this:
While enjoying a vacation in Florida, Dr.
Hauck wondered about the sand on the
beaches where he sat. At night he took a
mineral light out to explore and saw an
interesting fluorescence. He decided to ship
samples off to a lab and discovered it
contained important elements for atomic
use. He used his connections in Washington
121
D.C. to get permission to mine the sands
along the east coast of Florida which
provided him with hafnium, a metallic
element which is used for control rods, the
safety valves for nuclear reactors. Others sat
on the sand, too, but they just didnt ask
themselves any questions!
It is the perception of opportunity by
entrepreneur that has led to one of the
traditional definitions of the entrepreneur as
creative and innovative. It is commonly
thought that the entrepreneurs creativity
leads him to breaking new grounds by doing
new things or discovering an innovative way
of doing what other people are already
doing. For an entrepreneur to be creative and
innovative is not sufficient, because there
are innovative thinkers who never get
anything done. So, besides identifying
opportunities, there are additional
characteristics that define the true
entrepreneur. Of significance is the ability of
an entrepreneur to turn the opportunity into
a business idea, that is, he creates an
innovation to exploit the opportunity
(Bamiro, 2005). Thats exactly what Dr.
Hauck did when he explored the mineral
light. Thus, an entrepreneur translates his
innovative concept into a combination of
activities that, when put together, work out
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
to generate a viable operation. This practical
approach to opportunities distinguishes the
entrepreneur from the adventurer in search
of quick success who lacks understanding of
the intricacies of the business. Experience
and expertise help the entrepreneur to figure
out well-turned concepts that may make his
business idea viable (Machando, 2000,
Johannison, 2004, Agu, 2001).
What is a sustainable development?
Sustainable development, as defined by the
Brundtland Commission, is that which
enables us to meet the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
(Akanwa et al, 2005, Agu, 2001).
Sustainable development is simply the
process of improving quality of life in across
the board, now and in the future. In the
broader sense it is a process of providing for
social and economic well being of everyone
locally and globally now and in the future
without compromising or endangering the
long-term well being of the environment.
Sustainable development is not about
engineering alone although engineering has
a very important part to play because it is
the means of DOING most of what has to be
122
done to achieve sustainability (Scherer,
1989, Shapero, 1982, DeWit and Van
Winden, 1989).
Challenges of engineering
entrepreneurship
The quality of a business-startup is related to
the immediate context. The basis of
entrepreneurship is not a general definition
of innovativeness of the activities but a
relative definition of uniqueness. That is,
relative to the context in which the
entrepreneurial activities emerge.
This emergence of entrepreneurial activities,
the start-up, should be seen as a series of
events. Both personal factors and factors
from the environment guide the start-up
process. These factors consist of personal
features and motives (Dolton et al, 1990;
DeWit et al, 1989); education and
experience (Dolton et al, 1989), milieu and
social background (Uxem et al, 1996), the
availability of role-models with the personal
network (Shapero, 1980; Scherer, 1989), and
the effective implementation and activation
of networks (Johannisson et al, 1993). This
implies that the self-employment among
graduates should take a process-contingency
approach.
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
In addition, the entrepreneurial development can be linked to that of bone, tendon, and
parallels the career path of an individual ligament in human body system, without
entrepreneur and influences the choices which no articulation can take place. Since
made. The context wherein the todays costumers face plentitude of
entrepreneurial career takes place has to be products and services in every category,
recognized in order first, to understand the exhibiting varying and diverse requirements
conditions for new and habitual for products and services combinations, and
entrepreneurship and, second, to design have high expectations of quality and
ways of supporting entrepreneurs. service; it therefore becomes very
imperative for the small scale businesses to
A recurrent (academic) question is whether
inculcate resonant marketing principles and
entrepreneurship is an organizational feature
practices in their operations in the Nigeria
reflected in certain structures and processes
(Ameshi, 2006).
or a phenomenon which goes back to a
certain ability of the person, the The advancement of the developed
entrepreneur. economies since the end of the Second
World War can be directly attributed to a
The way forward
very aggressive investment, human as well
as institutional, in engineering and
Marketing, one of the organic business
technology capacity building. A review of
functions of management is as relevant to
why these countries were successful shows
small business enterprises as to big business
that the collaboration between institutions
organizations. The basic issue that
involved in capacity building was
marketing emphasizes is the satisfaction of
instrumental and necessary for their
needs and wants of customers, which leads
advancement (Awobamise, 2006).
to customer retention and loyalty. In the
strongly competitive marketplace, the
Furthermore, a review also shows that
companys first order of business is to retain
critical roles were played by universities,
customer loyalty through continually
research centers, industries and government
satisfying their need in a better way. No
through an enabling environment and
wonder Ogundele (2000) claims that the
incentives created by their governments in
relevance of human needs and in marketing
response to an industrial plan and other

123 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

policies. This type of review provides a
very good insight on what could work in
establishing a sound framework
engineering entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
In spite of the adverse environment in
Nigeria for engineering and technology
Capacity Building, Nigeria is blessed with a
large number of internationally recognized
experts in virtually all aspects of Science
and Engineering. It is these resources that
must be tapped in order to successfully build
the capacity that will enable Nigeria, to take
its rightful technology leadership position
not only in Africa but also among the other
developing countries.
Strategies for the Sustainability
Engineering Entrepreneurship
1. Knowledge and application by the
entrepreneur of his/her entrepreneurial
capacities: Proper management
entrepreneurs internal resources will lead to
successful venturing process.
consequence is the development of a broad
repertoire for encouraging and supporting
business venturing by public bodies and
private institutions. However,
entrepreneurial competences are beyond
formal training, and financial resources are
secondarily positioned against other kinds of
124
internal and external resources. Linked to
this is capability to combine craftsmanship
for with entrepreneurship.
2. Transparency and knowledge of the
market: The personal network and the
networking of the entrepreneur reflect the
notion of embeddedness of entrepreneurship
in socio-cultural structures. Entrepreneurs in
their personal networks include ties to not
only the product markets but also to other
markets, that of (public) support and the
supply market. With the networking
entrepreneurial initiative will provide also
new meaning and values that continuously
create new business opportunities.
of 3. Building and management of networks:
Recognition of the importance of the
individual growth-driven person and his or
her firm leads to the determination/selection
of of the right persons for support. However,
ventures and firms are emerging enterprises;
A they become integrated by way of personal
networks that make it possible to capitalize
upon the competences that experience
accumulates.
4. Skills acquisition and past experience:
Entrepreneurial activity is based on
experimental learning. This includes
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
mistakes which provide guiding experience. to be balanced with the Nigerian socio-
It can only be carried out in accordance with political and multi ethnic environment.
own intensions within an action frame where
7. Encouraging Government Policies:
the entrepreneur can identify and exploit
opportunities. Supplementary resources,
With a population of well over 100 million,
provided episodically by the personal
numerous institutions of higher learning and
network, therefore, are crucial.
a government committed to local content
5. Economics of overview: The individual
and the advancement of indigenous
entrepreneur should:
engineering and technology businesses,
(a) realize visions through concrete actions
Nigeria has the potential for successfully
(b) Be an experiential learner
building engineering and, technology
(c) demarcate an action frame where he/she
capacity if only the right policies are
is well versed in
implemented. Such policies will create an
(d) organize through networking.
environment/framework that fosters
collaboration and creates the right incentives
Economics of overview and supply-oriented
that attract and reward institutions (private
personal networks suggest the importance of
and public) that make engineering and
the interfaces between formal and informal
technology entrepreneurship a priority.
enterprise, between business and
community, and between the individual
8. Public-private partnership initiative for
entrepreneur (and his/her family) and the
technical education: Our training
community.
institutions, from Polytechnics to
Universities, lack not only modern facilities
6. Utilization of improved technologies
but most importantly competent academic
and advanced education: It is the
and technical support staff. The opportunity
utilization of advanced technologies and
for young engineers to practice and gain the
advanced education that leads to high skills
relevant experience is limited as virtually all
in technology. These are the two areas that
serious jobs are outsourced to foreign firms.
can likely lead to the desired economic
I therefore wish to state that public and
growth in developing countries, which can
private organizations should find ways of
lead them toward economic self sufficiency.
While this is universally true, they will have

125 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

instituting endowments in the various provide a basis for business development by
tertiary institutions. local entrepreneurs. As the Nigerian
government continues to emphasize local
In order to improve the quality of
content in all infrastructural projects and
pharmacists NAFDAC purchases laboratory
contracts, attention needs to be paid to the
equipment for the various Departments of
traditional role of middle men and foreign
Pharmacy in the Nigerian Universities. The
partners. As we all know, Nigerians are
Federal Ministry of Works can effectively
very enterprising and can be very good at
equip the Soil and concrete laboratories of
taking advantage of loop holes in
all Federal Universities over a period of 5
government policies. Curbing this behavior,
years. The Federal Ministry of Water
especially through the institution of
Resources can do the same for the
technical quality assurance mandated by
Hydraulics Laboratories of the Universities
government policy will be essential to a
while the organized private sector can equip
successful building of capacity. Technical
the Mechanical workshops of our various
quality assurance should be policed by a
departments of mechanical engineering.
registered body such as the Nigerian Society
PHCN can equip the electrical/electronic
of Engineers or COREN.
laboratories.
Technical quality assurance will require
9. Confidence in Nigerian Engineers: Each
licensed indigenous engineers to review all
time there is an engineering challenge in the
infrastructure government (including all
country the government rushes to foreign
joint ventures) projects and engineering
engineers for assistance; in spite of the fact
contracts of technical soundness, project
that local expertise is available in that area.
timing, budget, readiness for hard-over and
Even during instances of National
compliance to industry standards. The
emergencies foreign firms are called in to
process will place indigenous engineers
carry out rescue operations. When will the
directly in the middle of all project
Nigerian Government trust Nigerian
executions and will enable them to gain very
engineers to solve engineering challenges?
useful insights into the latest Approaches
and solutions. The registration process will
10. Technical quality assurance scheme:
also enable a very strong collaboration
A desired outcome is a solid foundation to

126 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

between the different professional societies building engineering and, technology
and institutions of higher learning. It will capacity if only the right policies are
also eliminate the unscrupulous middlemen implemented. Such policies will create an
from just fronting for foreign companies environment/framework that fosters
since all contract progress payments will be collaboration and creates the right incentives
needed to go through the technical assurance that attract and reward institutions (private
process. Far from creating a bottleneck that and public) that make engineering and
could slow down projects, technical technology capacity building a priority.
assurance is actually a very good business Over and above the usual fundamentals of
practice since it ensures expert opinion engineering and education and training, our
throughout a project lifecycle thus, training programmes should aimed at
preventing needless waste and errors in imparting skills to enable students to;
project execution, which ultimately saves evaluate the viability of a new venture,
money. A collateral benefit is the produce and present a business plan for a
development of local resources with the new or growing venture, and the ability to
requisite experience and knowledge analyze a new or growing venture from the
necessary for capacity building. perspective of an investor, a family-business
successor, or an owner-manager.
Conclusion
Government should proactively seek to
protect and nurture it to growth as a
With a population of well over 140 million,
deliberate and viable economic policy aimed
numerous institutions of higher learning and
as tapping its vast potentials in the
a government committed to local content
sustainable development of the Nigerian
and the advancement of indigenous
economy.
engineering and technology businesses,
Nigeria has the potential for successfully

127 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

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