Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that people do not remain poor due to a lack of skills or ambition; rather, they are poor because the economic system has never provided them with equal opportunities.
Speaking at Peking University in Beijing on Saturday, Professor Yunus expressed regret for being part of an education system that perpetuates mistaken ideas.
Poverty, he emphasized, is not an inherent trait of individuals but a flaw in the system we have created. According to him, flawed thinking is the root cause of many societal problems.
Dr Muhammad Yunus said: "I feel guilty because we have not yet changed the prevailing mindset, which continues to cause suffering. My duty is to identify the flaws in the system we use to educate young people so that future generations do not repeat the same mistakes.”
“The current system is designed for the wealthy, not for the poor. This realization drives me to create an alternative," he added.
Referring to his commitment to fulfilling the dreams of millions of young people, Professor Yunus said: "This recognition from Peking University reminds me of my promise to help realize the dreams of countless youths.”
He added: “Since last year, they have been the driving force behind Bangladesh’s transformation. Their goal is to build a new Bangladesh — one free from poverty and hunger. To turn this vision into reality, we have initiated several reforms aimed at ensuring good governance, transparency, and a democratic environment.”
He further added: “By reshaping economic policies to be more inclusive, we aim to provide equal opportunities for all. These reforms are our top priority, with clear objectives and long-term strategies.”
He also said: “We are revitalizing Bangladesh through investments, education, technology, and robust international cooperation, fostering economic transformation through entrepreneurship."
Professor Yunus also criticized the conventional job-seeking mindset, saying: "Our youth complete their education and then look for jobs. I have always said that this is a flawed approach. People are not born to be job seekers. The very concept of a job is a misconception.”
He added: “Human beings are inherently creative, and they prefer engaging in creative pursuits. Employment suppresses creativity by forcing individuals to follow their supervisors’ instructions.”
He also said: “Jobs are a modern form of servitude, but humans are not meant to be servants — they are meant to be free. We must spread the idea that people are born to be entrepreneurs, not employees."
Urging universities to prepare students to become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers, he said: "Students should graduate as successful entrepreneurs, not as job applicants. This belief stems from a simple experience. Near the university where I taught, I started a small initiative with rural women by offering microloans.”
He added: “My only intention was to help them use the funds to improve their lives. At the time, I was unsure if this initiative would work. However, over time, their financial conditions improved, and they continued their business activities. Eventually, this approach transformed the lives of millions of women."
He further explained: "This example reassured me that all people are entrepreneurs. We are taught in textbooks that only a select few are born to be entrepreneurs while the rest must work under them. I strongly disagree with this notion.”
He added: “If extremely poor, uneducated women in Bangladesh can become entrepreneurs through microloans, then anyone can. We do not provide them with training or instructions on running a business — they figure it out themselves.”
Prof Yunus further said: “This raises a fundamental question: What is the true purpose of education? That is why I believe education should unlock an individual’s creative potential and empower them to change the world."
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus was conferred an honorary doctorate by Peking University (PKU) in a ceremony held at the university's conference hall on Saturday.
After receiving the honorary doctorate, the chief adviser delivered a speech to the audience.
He was received by the president of the University, the chairman of the Council and a small group of Bangladeshi students studying at Peking University.
The chief adviser had a brief meeting with the university leadership.