INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON THE ACQUISITION OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND INTENTIONS AMONG BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN THE NORTH-EASTERN ZONE OF NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of entrepreneurship education on the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and intentions among Business Education students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria’s North-Eastern zone. The research was motivated by the persistent unemployment among graduates, despite mandatory entrepreneurship education in the curriculum. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated for the study at a significance level of 0.05. A mixed-methods explanatory design was employed, integrating quantitative data from 269 students using a structured questionnaire and qualitative insights from 11 class representatives through interviews. Findings revealed that entrepreneurship education significantly enhanced students’ technical competencies such as communication proficiency, problem-solving, and ICT application with a weighted mean of 3.07. It also positively shaped entrepreneurial intentions, including students’ desire to start businesses and develop leadership and opportunity-recognition skills, with a weighted mean of 3.16. A significant gender difference was found in technical skill acquisition (p < 0.05), favouring male students, while state-based analysis showed varied levels of influence on entrepreneurial intention. The study concluded that entrepreneurship education is a vital catalyst for job creation, self-reliance, and national development. It recommends improved pedagogical approaches and infrastructure support in tertiary institutions to bolster entrepreneurial capacity and reduce youth unemployment in Nigeria.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial skills, entrepreneurial intention, Business Education, technical skills, tertiary institutions, North-Eastern Nigeria.
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