Assessment of Entrepreneurship in Librarianship for Poverty Reduction and Unemployment Among Librarians in Colleges of Education in North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to assess entrepreneurship in librarianship for poverty reduction and unemployment among librarians of College of Education in North central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is obvious that entrepreneurship reduces unemployment, promotes self-reliance, alleviates poverty and provides the opportunity for individuals to contribute to the economic development of a nation through innovative ideas. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, five research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 levels of significance. A survey method was adapted for the study. Professional librarians, forty-eight (48) of them, selected in the Colleges of Education in the North-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, represented the population of the study. A structured questionnaire titled entrepreneurship in librarianship for poverty reduction and unemployment (ELPRU) was administered to the respondents in the selected Colleges of Education. Out of the 48 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the respondents, a total of 45 (93.7%) copies were returned and duly completed and found usable for the study. The data collected for the study were presented and analyzed using inferential statistics. T-test was used to test the significant difference between variables in hypothesis 1 and 2, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the significant relationship among the variables in 3, 4 and 5 at 0.05 levels of significance. However, the finding of the study reveals that there is significant difference among librarians in the types of entrepreneurial skills they acquired. In this study, it is recommended that librarians, as well as other information professional, need to diversify their interests and passion for entrepreneurial opportunities within and outside library and information and also work for self-reliance without being depend on white collar jobs and/ or government. Also, government at all levels and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should provide funds for librarians in any chosen entrepreneurial opportunity available or specialization after graduation from library and information science schools.