Effect of Entrepreneurial Education on Unemployment Reduction Among Students in Nigeria

Abstract

The study looked at the effect of entrepreneurial education on unemployment reduction among students in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbaria. The problem of the study is as a result of increasing rate of unemployment in Nigeria. The study was anchored on Human Capital Theory and risk taking theory. As a cross-sectional survey research design, a structured instrument of (5) points Likert Scale was developed by the researchers to obtain information from the respondents. The population of the study was limited to final year students of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Studies Department in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam. The total population was 195. Business administration was 128 while entrepreneurship was 67. The study used convenience sampling technique in selecting the sample size for the study based on convenience and easy accessibility to the respondents. Research hypotheses were tested using Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) which was carried out with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Findings from the study revealed that Skill acquisition has a significant effect on unemployment rate, Entrepreneurship empowerment affects unemployment reduction, Infrastructural development has significant effect on unemployment reduction in Anambra State. The study recommended that entrepreneurial studies be encouraged in tertiary institutions where students are exposed to various entrepreneurial skills development leading to job creation and financial independence after their graduation. In doing this, more jobs will be created and people engaged meaningfully for the good of their family and the society at large. Soft loan should also be made available by the government to encourage the activities of small scale business in Nigeria