Vocational business education: An entrepreneurial engagement for the youths to alleviate insecurity in South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated alleviating insecurity in southeast Nigeria using vocational business education for the entrepreneurial engagement of youths. The study answered three research questions and tested three hypotheses. A multistage sampling technique was adopted in selecting 275 respondents for the study. The instrument for data collection was a 32-item structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. The instrument was face-validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using the Cronbach Alpha reliability technique which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.784. The data for the study were collected with the help of four research assistants. Out of the 275 copies of the questionnaire administered, 256 copies were completely filled and returned representing a 93.1% return rate. Data collected were analyzed using mean for answering the three research questions while the three hypotheses were tested using t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study identified 8 implications of youth engagement in entrepreneurial activities on alleviation of insecurity, 10 sources of funds for youth’s entrepreneurial activities that can be taught through vocational Business Education, and 13 strategies that can be taught through vocational Business Education for sustainable management of businesses among the youths in southeast Nigeria. There were no significant (p<0.05) differences in the mean ratings of Business Educators and students on the implications of youth engagement in entrepreneurial activities and strategies that can be taught through vocational Business Education for sustainable management of businesses among the youths. Though, there was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the mean ratings of Business Educators and students on sources of funds for youth’s entrepreneurial activities. The study among others recommended increased engagement of youths in entrepreneurial activities to alleviate their idleness and insecurity in the country.