Applying entrepreneurial strategies to educational management: Fostering innovation and competitiveness in Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University Of Education, Kano

This study examines the application of entrepreneurial strategies in educational management at Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano (YMSFUEK) to foster innovation and enhance institutional competitiveness. Using a descriptive case study design, data were collected through surveys of 65 senior staff and 60 students, semi-structured interviews with key administrators, and analysis of institutional documents. Findings revealed strong staff support for entrepreneurial initiatives. 90% endorsed industry partnerships and 82% back innovation hubs, yet exposed critical gaps in curriculum relevance and resource availability. Notably, 80% of students felt unprepared to start businesses after graduation, and only 18% believe the curriculum equips them with relevant entrepreneurial skills. Guided by Suliman’s (2025) integrative framework of strategic entrepreneurship and Blue Ocean Strategy, the study proposes a transformative model centred on curriculum redesign, revenue diversification, stakeholder collaboration, and a cultural shift from bureaucratic inertia to market-responsive leadership. The recent National Universities Commission approval of 28 independent degree programs offers YMSFUEK a unique opportunity to embed entrepreneurial principles from inception. The paper concludes that with deliberate strategic action, YMSFUEK can overcome systemic constraints, produce job-creating graduates, and emerge as a model entrepreneurial university of education in Nigeria.