Entrepreneurial Education for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: An Exploratory Case Study

Abstract

The lack of adequate education for entrepreneurship of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), executive managers, and owner-managers in Nigeria increases the high rate of poverty and unemployment. Lack of management training and experience contributed to 69% of SMEs’ failures. Research on entrepreneurial development and agency intervention for business growth lacks criteria for adequate entrepreneurial education for business growth and sustainability. The inadequacy in teaching entrepreneurship education encumbers Nigerian national development. The problem is that entrepreneurs in Nigeria lack good education in entrepreneurship and business sustainability. The qualitative exploratory case study addressed gaps and paucity in previous literature on why Nigerian SMEs lack adequate education for entrepreneurship and business sustainability. Ten entrepreneurs were interviewed to explore how to apply education to operate businesses strategically for growth and sustainability. Data analysis and interpretation revealed four themes: (a) inadequacy of entrepreneurship education and capacity building; (b) lack of a strategic management approach for competitive advantage; (c) lack of business leadership, orientation, and experience; and (d) unsustainable business strategy for sustainability and growth. The research findings provided entrepreneurs with strategic management approaches to achieve efficient business development for business growth and sustainability.