Nurture entrepreneurship qualities among students: Naeem Akther

Reiterating the need for development of entrepreneurship quality within the students, Education Minister Naeem Akhtar Tuesday stressed for establishment of business models within the educational institutions to infuse the confidence among the students.

The minister was speaking at the ‘second annual day’ function of Iqbal Institute of Technology and Management (IITM) observed under the auspices of Iqbal Memorial Trust (IMT), at Laloo Shesh Garibagh Hydepora here.

“The mindset of the students won’t change unless we create working models of business and entrepreneurship within the colleges and universities,” the minister said, adding that a sealing has been put in to mindset of students who after admission in schools lose all their virtues and ambitions. “All the arts in a student die down after he goes into middle school. Their focus remains only to become a seasonal or a casual laborer.”

Meanwhile, the minister praised the governing body of IITM saying the institution has been able to create ‘human beings of excellence’ which are able to compete in the contemporary world.

“This institution distinguishes itself with the promotion of talent and remained the index in the popularity of excellence,” he said.

Akther said the governing body of the institution has converted a community initiative into a community benefit. “There is no better option than providing moral and religious education and this institution has succeeded so far in spreading the secular, technical and moral values,” he added.

Akther however asked the IITM administration to start a business model at local level and start an e- marketing outlet to make the initiative a success.

Earlier in his welcome address, Principal IITM Prof G M Lone said the institution has succeeded in grooming the ‘weak students referred by Kashmir University’ and enable them to occupy the merit list.

“We groom them and at the end these students excel and are counted among the toppers,” Lone said.

Lone also gave a brief details of the courses offered by the institution.

Chairman IMT, Dr. Yousuf-ul-Umer in his address said the Trust has a set goal of ‘provide a platform’ to young generation’ and enable them in reaching out to new heights.

“We started our mission in 1990 to achieve academic excellence for which we are trying our best to accomplish the goal by producing alumni with excellence,” he said.

Seeking government cooperation to achieve their set goal the Chairman said the lethargic approach of government department has marred their desires of taking new initiatives of academic reforms.

“Four years ago, we have submitted a proposal for allotment of land for establishment of engineering college but there has been no response from the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the IITM students staged skits to showcase the incompetence of the state government during the last year floods and how the locals themselves saved those caught in the deadly deluge.

The students also presented a skit to highlight menace of drug addiction.

The function culminated with the prize distribution among the merit holders of various departments of IITM while as HoD MCA department, Sajad Gul presented the vote of thanks.