Stakeholders in the education, faith-based and social development sectors have called for urgent curriculum reform, stronger institutional leadership and sustainable funding models to help organisations survive Nigeria’s current economic realities.
The call was made during a one-day Comprehensive Capacity Training Workshop organised by MasterCoach Hub at the FCT Education Resource Centre in Abuja.
In his welcome address, Convener and Training Consultant, Ustaz Yunus Salahudeen, said the workshop was designed to equip educational institutions, NGOs, children’s homes and faith-based organisations with practical tools for financial sustainability, strategic leadership and organisational growth.
According to him, Nigeria is currently facing unstable economic realities that require institutions to rethink outdated systems and embrace innovation-driven reforms.
Salahudeen stressed that some academic programmes and institutional practices had lost relevance in today’s rapidly changing world, noting that education systems must evolve to prepare students and administrators for future challenges.
He described curriculum reform as urgent and necessary, adding that the training of caregivers, social workers and administrators in orphanages and NGOs must also be improved to meet emerging realities.
The convener further urged organisations to broaden their knowledge in areas such as sustainable development models, donor and grant linkages, compliance systems, partnerships and proposal writing to unlock funding and technical support opportunities.
“Our passion alone is not enough to move our institutions forward. We must strengthen our structures and equip ourselves with practical knowledge that guarantees sustainability,” he said.
Salahudeen appreciated several partner organisations for supporting the initiative, including the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, National Information Technology Development Agency, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, MacArthur Foundation and the Abuja Enterprise Agency.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the management of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chudi Ezirigwe, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enterprise development, innovation, job creation and the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Ezirigwe highlighted several initiatives introduced by the agency, including the AEA Women in Business Forum, the Export Desk Office and the One-Stop-Shop Business Support Centre aimed at simplifying business registration and supporting entrepreneurs.
He also disclosed that the agency, in collaboration with the Abuja Investments Company Limited and the Bank of Industry, is implementing programmes to support innovation, business financing and enterprise expansion.
Also speaking at the workshop, Dr Neemat Daud Abdulrahim commended MasterCoach Hub for initiating discussions around financial sustainability and funding gaps affecting educational institutions and faith-based organisations.
She noted that the challenge of funding institutions is a global phenomenon requiring innovative and collaborative solutions.
Abdulrahim cited successful partnerships between private technology firms and the Education Resource Centre in improving examination administration, result processing and certification systems through digital innovation and structured revenue-sharing arrangements.
She further identified collaborations with organisations such as UNESCO, USAID, UNICEF and the United States Embassy as examples of how institutions can secure technical support, training opportunities and development partnerships.
Participants at the workshop were encouraged to leverage strategic collaborations, innovation and capacity-building opportunities to strengthen their institutions and improve service delivery to vulnerable groups across the country.
