Attitude of Youths and Young Graduates towards Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition in Abeokuta, Ogun State: Issues and Prospects

Abstract

This research was conducted in order to assess and evaluate the attitude of Youth and Young graduates towards entrepreneurial skill acquisition in Abeokuta town, Ogun state, South West, Nigeria. The study identified the specific needs of youths in entrepreneurship; attitude of the young graduates towards entrepreneurship skills and also identified the factors affecting entrepreneurial characteristics among the Youth/Young graduates. A structured questionnaire was used for the study. The questionnaire was distributed to participants at Muda Lawal Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun state when they converged for immigration interview in March, 2014. Thus, the sample size used for the study comprised valid 400 respondents which represents 20% of the unemployed youths in attendance. The statistical tool for analyzing the data and interpretation was the chi-square (non-parametric) statistical technique and percentage counts. The study revealed that most of the Youths/Young graduates had little or no knowledge about entrepreneurship education and training from their respective tertiary institutions. Therefore, entrepreneurship training should be part of programmes of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria to make the fresh graduate self-employed after a year mandatory programme to serve their father land. The National Universities Commission (NUC) should mandate all Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria to create Entrepreneurship development centre and put in place two compulsory courses on entrepreneurship for all undergraduate students’ irrespective of their discipline. Governments at all levels can also support with funding schemes, tax policies through micro enterprises and the supply of needed infrastructures, business information and advices.