The strength of any educational system lies not only in its infrastructure or curriculum, but in the people who deliver it — the educators. Across Nigerian universities, thousands of students pass through entrepreneurship courses every year. Yet for many institutions, the teaching of entrepreneurship has long been limited by theory-heavy content, minimal industry exposure, and traditional assessment models. The Bridging Borders Project (BBP) directly tackles this challenge by investing where it matters most: in the capacity and confidence of educators.
Empowering Educators, Transforming Classrooms
Between April and June 2025, BBP delivered a comprehensive 12-session virtual training programme via Microsoft Teams, reaching 107 academic staff from the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and Covenant University. Remarkably, the programme achieved a 50% female participation rate, reflecting BBP’s commitment to gender inclusivity in leadership and knowledge exchange.
These educators are more than course facilitators — they are agents of change tasked with shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. BBP’s training addressed this responsibility by equipping them with modern teaching tools and pedagogical approaches grounded in real-world application.
Innovative Teaching for a New Generation
Gone are the days when entrepreneurship education could rely solely on lectures and written examinations. The BBP capacity-building series introduced participants to global best practices, including:
-Experiential learning and case-based teaching
-Inclusive pedagogies that support diverse learners
-Digital and hybrid teaching platforms
-Assessment innovations such as business simulations and pitch evaluations
-University–industry collaboration frameworks
Each session emphasised the shift from content delivery to student engagement, encouraging educators to create environments where creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking become core outcomes.
Confidence as a Catalyst for Change
One of the most significant outcomes of the programme was a measurable 30% increase in participants’ confidence to deliver effective and inclusive entrepreneurship education. Confidence, in this context, goes beyond self-belief — it represents readiness to innovate, collaborate, and challenge outdated academic norms.
Many participants expressed their intention to redesign existing modules, integrate case studies from African enterprises, and create digital spaces for students to showcase innovation and enterprise projects.
From Training to Institutional Impact
What sets BBP apart is its systemic approach. Rather than focusing on isolated workshops, the project seeks institutional transformation. Participants have begun forming innovation clusters, mentoring colleagues, and embedding newly acquired strategies into departmental practice. As these educators return to their universities, they carry with them not just knowledge, but a vision for curriculum reform and collaborative learning.
Investing in Educators, Investing in the Future
Higher education reform cannot be achieved through policy alone; it requires empowered educators. Through BBP, universities are discovering that meaningful change begins in the classroom — where one inspired lecturer can influence hundreds of students, and one innovative module can shape entrepreneurial mindsets for life.
By strengthening educator capacity, the Bridging Borders Project is not only enhancing entrepreneurship education — it is helping to build an ecosystem where African universities are producers of knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.
When educators grow, nations grow. And through initiatives like BBP, the future of African higher education is being rewritten — one classroom at a time.