Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE) joined the global community on June 27 to commemorate the 2025 World Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Day.
The event spotlighted the critical role of student-led enterprise in national development and calling for structured policy support to embed entrepreneurship in the school curriculum.
Held in alignment with the United Nations’ recognition of SMEs as engines of economic growth, innovation, and job creation, WISE’s celebration went beyond ceremony—it was a showcase of practical enterprise projects and a powerful statement about the future of education.
A Model for School-Based Entrepreneurship
The school’s flagship student-led projects—the WISE Farm Enterprise, WISE Financial Literacy Centre, and WISE Agroforestry Centre—were on full display during the event.
These initiatives are not just academic experiments; they are operational micro-enterprises that offer real-world experience to students in agriculture, business, and sustainability.
From aquaculture to sustainable farming and basic commerce, WISE students are learning by doing—and thriving. “We are not just workers, we are entrepreneurs building a future together,” wrote the school’s Director, Mr. Kabiru Abass, in a message marking the event. “This farm helps us feed our families and learn new skills. We hope to inspire others to start something soon. Happy World SME Day!”
Students Leading the Way
Miss Jones, an SSS 1 student and CEO of WISE Enterprise, delivered a compelling message during the programme, championing student entrepreneurship as a pathway to youth empowerment. “We need to encourage more student-led initiatives in schools and provide support to help build the next generation of entrepreneurs,” she said.
She credited Mrs. Elizabeth Idehen, the school’s enterprise facilitator, for mentoring students and instilling in them the principles of business planning, financial literacy, and sustainability. Under Mrs. Idehen’s leadership, students have moved beyond theory to practice—managing sales, tracking expenses, and creating value.
The Case for Policy Support
While WISE is a trailblazer in school-based enterprise education, staff and students emphasized that such efforts need national policy backing. The school is calling on education stakeholders and government agencies to formally recognize and integrate student-led enterprise initiatives into the basic and secondary school curricula across Nigeria.
“There’s a clear link between early enterprise education and national development,” noted Mrs. Idehen. “It’s time to institutionalize entrepreneurship in our schools—not as an extracurricular activity, but as a core subject that builds skills, confidence, and economic resilience.”
WISE’s message aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on quality education, decent work, and economic growth.
Stories of Transformation
According to students participating in the WISE Financial Literacy Centre, their engagement has gone beyond money management—it’s about life transformation. “This shop started small, but it’s helping us to save money wisely. We are not just selling goods, we are also building confidence one customer at a time,” one student shared.
From teaching peers how to open savings accounts to organizing mock investment clubs, the students are beginning to see themselves as future entrepreneurs and community changemakers.
The Bigger Picture
WISE’s initiative illustrates the powerful intersection of education, innovation, and youth empowerment. By investing in student-led enterprise, the school is nurturing problem-solvers, job creators, and leaders of tomorrow.
Mr. Abass further reflected: “Why is SME important to Nigeria? Because it creates employment opportunities and provides job readiness skills. And for these reasons, it has been integrated into our school curriculum. We call it school enterprise.”
