Acquisition Of Entrepreneurial Skills Research Articles

Impact of Entrepreneurship Training on Poverty Reduction Among Rural Youths

The study examined the impact entrepreneurship training on poverty reduction among the rural youths in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Twospecific purpose and research questions were raised for the study. The study adopted mixed method research design. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The population of the study comprise youths across the districts in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. A sample of 245 youths was selected from the population of the study. The identified stratum was the districts in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. Entrepreneurship Training and Poverty Reduction Questionnaire (ETPRQ) was used to gather the quantitative data before the training. Focus group discussion with the youths after the training was used to gather the qualitative data for the study. The instruments were duly validated and Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.81 was calculated for the questionnaire. The quantitative data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions while the qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The findings revealed among that entrepreneurship training has positive impact on the entrepreneurial skill acquisition for poverty reduction among youths. It was concluded that entrepreneurship training had positive impact on poverty reduction among youths. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made among others: Government at all levels, Non-governmental organizations and philanthropist should organize entrepreneurship training programme for youths to acquire relevant entrepreneurial skills which will go a long way to reduce poverty among the youths. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Training, poverty, Reduction, Rural, Youths DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-21-08 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

Youth motivations to study agriculture in tertiary institutions

ABSTRACT Purpose: Against the backdrop of a worldwide decline in entry into agricultural courses, we investigate the factors that motivate young people to continue studying (and not to drop out from) agricultural courses in tertiary institutions. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was used. Questionnaire data were collected from 967 students within four universities in Southwest Nigeria. Motivation was measured using a 5-point Likert scale, designed with insights from the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Principal-Axis factoring. Findings: All four extrinsic motivational types, as espoused in the SDT, were identified as factors, of which Identified regulation had the strongest influence. Among the identified regulation items, acquisition of entrepreneurial skills, opportunity to learn about innovations, and self-employment prospects after graduation were the strongest drivers. Practical implications: The findings stress the importance of making agricultural courses more business-focused, with hands-on skills on agri-innovations and agri-entrepreneurship. It also indicates the influence of socio-environmental context on youth behaviours. Policies needs to be more holistic and systematic in to support agri-entrepreneurship development and self-employment opportunities for agri-graduates. Theoretical implications: Youth motivation to study agricultural courses in tertiary institutions has not been adequately researched and theorized, especially in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) context. Our study indicates that SDT provides a useful lens to examine this issue. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in the SSA context. It not only contributes to the agricultural education literature, but also to the wider education literature through the application of the SDT theory in a new field.

A University Training Programme for Acquiring Entrepreneurial and Transversal Employability Skills, a Students’ Assessment

The objective of this paper is to analyze university graduate students’ assessments of the attainment of skills acquired in a Training Programme (TP) to develop entrepreneurial skills and transversal employability competencies. Both are vital for the success of today’s societies and play an important role in the sustainable development agenda. The TP was a 12-week programme with six modules combining entrepreneurship training and traditional teaching methods. There were nine editions and 148 students worked in teams preparing business plans to present to consultants and potential investors. First, the nominal group technique was used to identify which competencies can be acquired through TP. Second, a survey was designed to identify the level to which the competences were attained. The results suggest that the students attained two types of skills, acquiring a higher level of proficiency in entrepreneurial skills and those transversal competencies. Additionally, different levels of attainment of entrepreneurial skills were found in different groups of students. We provide new evidence that TPs, as compulsory subjects in the core curriculum of degree programmes, will help accomplish both objectives: the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills and generic university educational competencies. The overall outcome of this research highlights the value added by the TPs.

Teaching Methods and Creativity Levels of Students on Acquisition of Entrepreneurial Skills in the Rewinding of Coil in Electric Motor

The study was designed to investigate teaching methods and creativity levels of students and acquisition of entrepreneurial skills in the rewinding of coil in electric motor. The study area was Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. A sample of 60 physics senior secondary school students were purposively selected from a population of 1000 students and subjected to quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design with two experimental and one control group with each group taught with different instructional methods. Data was obtained using Creative Ability Test (CAT) and Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition Test (ESAT) instruments, with reliability coefficients of 0.95 and 0.74 respectively, was analysed using mean and percentage for the research questions while 3×3 Multivariate Analysis of Covariance was used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that students with high creative ability gained most in the acquisition of measurement and manipulative skills when taught with cooperative strategy, while students with average and low creative abilities gained most in the acquisition of measurement, manipulative and finger dexterity skills when taught with demonstration strategy. However, the post hoc analyses showed that the significant differences in the instructional strategies were credited to demonstration strategy. The study thus recommends that the creative abilities of the students should be developed, while students–centred instructional strategies like demonstration and cooperative methods should be preferably used by teachers in teaching students rewinding of coil in electric motor.

Entrepreneurship Training for Mitigating Unemployment in Nigeria: How have the Tertiary Institutions Fared?

The increasing unemployment in Nigeria is one of the social problems contributing to abject poverty, crime and other civil vices plaguing the country today. Although the public and private sectors have made some efforts in addressing the problem, available current statistics show that both sectors lack the capacity to solely employ the entire manpower base of the country. Considering the potential of entrepreneurial training for reducing unemployment, the Nigerian government through the National Universities Commission (NUC) introduced entrepreneurial education as a compulsory course in various higher institutions. In this study, we aimed to ascertain the extent to which these institutions have implemented entrepreneurial education for mitigating unemployment in Nigeria, using the University of Calabar as a case study. A combination of structured questionnaires, titled students’ Opinion Questionnaire and review of extant literatures and theoretical framework, was used for the study. The resulting data showed that the tertiary institutions have not significantly contributed to mitigating unemployment through entrepreneurial education, judging from the low students’ acquisition of entrepreneurial skills, their limited exposure to business opportunities and difficulty in sourcing funds to ensure utilization of any acquired skills after graduation.

Entrepreneurial intentions in an international university environment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the entrepreneurial intentions of international university students by applying the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). This paper presents a model that considers personal, social and environmental factors that potentially influence students’ intentions to become entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachAn extension of the TPB was proposed, including two additional constructs: entrepreneurial skills and university education. The target population of the study was national and international university students enroled in different universities. A validated survey (n= 276) was used to collect the data. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses and the relationships between variables.FindingsStudents are more likely to acquire entrepreneurial skills through effective education and training. Entrepreneurial skills play a significant role in explaining entrepreneurial intentions because it is assumed that knowledge and training make people highly skilled. This raises people’s propensity to start a business.Originality/valueThis study makes a unique contribution to the literature by considering the role of entrepreneurial skills that are commonly acquired at university. The primary conclusions relate to the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills within the university environment. These conclusions are of interest to practitioners and policymakers.

Vocational Counselling and Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition of Electrical/Electronic Technical College Students

Vocational Counselling and Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition of Electrical/Electronic Technical College Students

Utilization of Blogging Platforms and Acquisition of Entrepreneurial Skills for Self-Reliance Among Educational Technology Students in University of Calabar

In this rapidly changing world, the quest for self-reliance has always been the desire of many nations especially in the present face of global economic challenge. This study centres on using blogging platforms for acquiring Entreprneurial skills for Self-reliance among Educational Technology Students in University of Calabar. The study utilized the descriptive survey design. Three research questions were raised and three research hypotheses were stated to guide the study. The population comprised all the 39 final year educational technology students from university of calabar. Thirty-nine final year Educational Technology students were purposively adopted as sample size for the study. Linear regression was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The model summary table was used to answer research questions. The instrument for data collection was the utilization of blogging platforms for acquiring entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance questionnaire (UBPFESRQ). The instrument was face validated with a reliability coefficient of .80 using Chronbach Alpha Statistics.  It was found that the Use of blogger, wordpress and steemit had no significant relationship with acquisition of entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance among educational technology students in University of Calabar. Some recommendations were made to include that emphasis should be laid on entrepreneurial skills and educational technology tools such as design, production and modernization of indigenous resources among students through practices and innovations for achieving self-reliant generation.

Nexus Between Literacy Education and Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition of Artisans in Osun State, Nigeria

The study was examined to look at the nexus between literacy education and entrepreneurial skills of artisans in Osun State, Nigeria. Two hundred and ten (210) artisans were drawn from three Senatorial districts of Osun State, Nigeria using stratified random sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and Anova analysis. Findings showed that lack of patience to spend the stipulated years for training is the major problem hindering artisans’ effectiveness in entrepreneurial skills, and those who did not acquire literacy education found it difficult to perform well. Findings also revealed that ability to be able to read and write had great impact on artisans’ entrepreneurial skills acquisition, revealing there is a nexus between literacy education and entrepreneurial skill acquisition. It was therefore recommended that individual in the society need to acquire literacy education before embarking on any entrepreneurial skill acquisition for self and the development of their society. Keywords : Artisans, entrepreneurial, literacy education, nexus, skill acquisition. DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-11-10 Publication date : April 30 th 2019

Identification And Efficacy Of Strategies For Teaching Entrepreneurship Education Among Students In Tertiary Institutions In Kwara State Nigeria

The paper examined business educators’ perception of the strategies for teaching entrepreneurship education and the efficacy of the strategies in developing entrepreneurial skills among students in tertiary Institutions in Kwara State. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study consists of 82 Business educators from all the Tertiary Institutions in Kwara State that offer business education programme. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data related to research questions, while t-test statistics was used in testing the two null hypotheses of the study. The study revealed that the identified strategies are used by lecturers in teaching entrepreneurship education, and that majority of these strategies are equally effective in developing entrepreneurial skills among students in tertiary institutions. The two null hypotheses of no significant difference were retained at 0.05 level of significance which therefore indicates that the opinion of male and female business educators do not differ significantly on the strategies of teaching entrepreneurship and the efficacy of the strategies in developing entrepreneurial skills among students in tertiary institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. It was recommended among others that entrepreneurship lecturers should continue to adopt the identified strategies in the teaching and learning of entrepreneurship education, since they are highly effective in inculcating entrepreneurial skills among students in tertiary institutions in Kwara State, and also that curriculum planners should build in dynamic entrepreneurship skills into the curricular at all fields of study so as to make the curricula at every level of education be geared towards the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance.

Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition through Education: Impact of the Nurturance of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude on New Venture Creation

Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition through Education: Impact of the Nurturance of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude on New Venture Creation

Entrepreneurial Skills and Youth Employment in Kogi State, Nigeria: The Case of N-Power

This study aimed at investagiting the effects of entrepreneurial skills on youth employment in Kogi State, using N-Power as a case study. Survey research design was adopted. The study adopted snowball sampling technique to select N-Power beneficiaries. A well-designed questionnaire was used as a viable instrument to collect data from beneficiaries in N-Teach, N-Health, N-Tax and N-Agro. Data collected were analysed using Multiple Regression and Ordered Probit Regression Model. Finding shows that entrepreneurial skills development has significant effect on N-Power beneficiaries in Kogi State. Finding furthers shows that interpersonal relation skill, technology adoption skill, decision-making skill and risk-taking skill have significant and positive relationship with youth self-employment in Kogi State. The study concluded that the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills is a vital approach towards self-employment. The study recommended that the government and policy-makers should device special focus for interpersonal relation skill, decision-making skill, technology adoption skill and risk-taking skill of N-Power beneficiaries; with less attention to financial literacy and creative thinking skills.

The impact of innovation on the performance of small-to-medium informal metal-trade enterprises in Zimbabwe

The informal sector in Zimbabwe plays a fundamental role in the supply of intermediate agricultural technologies. The seemingly never-ending economic crisis has arguably contributed to the collapse of the formal industrial sector resulting in a shortage of farming technologies especially amongst small-scale farmers whose numbers increased exponentially post the agrarian reform in 2000. However, innovation capabilities by informal entrepreneurs and overall firm performance are critical elements for eventual impact of the sector to the farming community. This study scrutinises the effect of informal entrepreneurial innovations on firm performance using data from 602 randomly selected informal metal industry entrepreneurs clustered across 15 districts from eight provinces in Zimbabwe. An instrumental variable regression method is employed to control for potential endogeneity bias associated with the voluntary nature of the decision to innovate. Results show that firm and firm owner characteristics and policy are important correlates of innovation while entrepreneurial innovations promote firm performance. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of entrepreneurial innovations on firm performance and the need for ensuring continuity of the informal metal businesses. Also, policies that promote acquisition of cheap entrepreneurial skills and a favourable business climate that supports innovation might help to steer Zimbabwe’s economy out of trouble.

Business Education and Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition for Sustainable Economic Development : Competency Needs of Business Educators in Delta State

Business Education and Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition for Sustainable Economic Development : Competency Needs of Business Educators in Delta State

Assessment Of Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme And Poverty Alleviation Among Rural Poor In Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examines the impact of conditional cash transfer scheme on poverty alleviation in the rural communities of Cross River State, Nigeria. The ex-post facto research design was adopted and three hypotheses were formulated in this study. The instrument for data collection was a thirty (30) item structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion. The population of the study comprises 2940 beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer in the eighteen local government areas of the state, from 2010 to 2017. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 1176 respondents. The hypotheses were analysed using Pearson product moment correlation. The findings revealed that conditional cash transfer scheme have significant relationship with poverty alleviation in terms of increase school enrolment and had tremendously helped in improving health services utilisation as most of the beneficiaries of this programme were able to access health facilities better than before the scheme. This intervention has equally helped beneficiaries to acquire requisite entrepreneurial skills that helped them to transform their lives and standard of living. On the basis of these findings it is recommended that the government should increase the number of household beneficiaries for wider coverage and spread as well as establish more health facilities in the rural areas. More so, the government should increase the number of people enlisted for entrepreneurial training and skills acquisition. (Word Count 222)

Assessment of Shea fruit processors in Niger state for improved livelihood and entrepreneurial activities

The Shea tree is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, and generally found in semi-arid to arid north of the humid forest zone. Shea fruit processing is a common production activity in rural areas of Niger State. This study aimed at having an overview of Shea fruit processors as a means of identifying areas of intervention for improved productivity and their livelihood. Specific objectives were to assess the socio-economic characteristics, ascertain average monthly income from Shea processing, identify sources of labour for Shea processing, examine the social infrastructures available to processors, assess the production capacity of the processors and determine constraints to Shea butter production activities in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 80 Shea butter processors for the study while a well structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The study revealed that the respondents, all women, were married (96.1%) and within their active ages. The women all belong to one or more groups. Main sources of labour for processing of Shea butter were Family (75%) and communal (65.8%); All the respondents find the current Shea butter processing methods difficult. Chi-square analysis indicates that respondents’ years of experience in processing” (χ2 = 17.18; p < 0.05) and “household size” (χ2 = 12.79; p < 0.05) have significant association with respondents’ level of butter production. The study therefore calls for better exposure of the processors through entrepreneurial skill acquisition scheme, to improved technique of Shea processing for better quality nuts/ butter production and principles of agribusiness.Keywords: Shea tree, rural livelihood, Shea processing, Quality nuts/butter, Ready market.

Students’ participation in entrepreneurship skills acquisition programmes in Adamawa state polytechnic yola, Nigeria

Students’ participation in entrepreneurship skills acquisition programmes in Adamawa state polytechnic yola, Nigeria

Training Needs of Business Educators and Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition by Business Education Undergraduates for Sustainable Development

Training Needs of Business Educators and Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition by Business Education Undergraduates for Sustainable Development

Management of Secondary School Principals for Poverty Reduction in Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Cross River State, Nigeria

This paper is focused on the management of secondary school principals for poverty reduction in achievement of sustainable development goals in Cross River State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for the study was survey design. The population of the study comprised 233 public secondary school principals in Cross River State. A questionnaire titled: Management of Secondary School Principals for Poverty Reduction in Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (MSSPPRASDG) was designed by the researchers and validated by research experts in measurement and evaluation. Data collected from 233 schools were used for the analysis. Using test-retest statistics, the reliability co-efficient of the instrument was 0.85. Weighted mean score, standard deviation and criterion mean were used to answer the research questions while z–test was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that secondary school principals could contribute directly towards poverty reduction in achievement of sustainable development goals by partaking in and organizing entrepreneurship skills acquisition training for members of their staff in secondary schools in Cross River State. It was therefore recommended that the State Ministry of Education (SME) and State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) should set up organ(s) that will provide support and supervision for secondary school principals to encourage effective implementation of entrepreneurship skills acquisition training programs in order to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development goals in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Quality Implementation of Technical and Vocational Education and Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition for Technology And Economic Development In Nigeria

This study examined quality implementation of Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) and entrepreneurial skill acquisition for technology and economic development in Nigeria. It looked at standard of admissions policy, quality of personnel and standard of facilities. Three research hypotheses guided the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised heads of department, units’ heads, senior non-academic staff, 300 and 200 levels students of 2016/2017 academic session from TVE department in two institutions. A sample of 135 respondents out of a population of 562 was drawn from University of Calabar (UNICAL) and Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) for the study. Of this number, 125 representing 92.59% return rate was achieved. Census technique was used to select the staff, while purposive sampling was adopted in choosing 300 and 200 levels students in the 2016/2017 academic sessions. On the other hand, systematic sampling was adopted in selecting 300 and 200 levels students that actually responded to the instrument. A validated researcher- made four point rating scale questionnaire captioned “Quality Implementation of Technical and Vocational Education and Entrepreneurial Skill Acquisition for Technology and Economic Development Questionnaire” (QITVEESATEDQ) was used for data collection. A reliability estimate of 0.71 was achieved for the instrument using Cronbach reliability coefficient after a pilot test was carried out. Data collected was analyzed using linear regression statistical tool and all hypotheses were tested at .05 significant level. Findings revealed that admissions policy, quality of personnel and standard of facilities in TVE departments significantly influence the acquisition of entrepreneurial skill for technology and economic development. It was therefore recommended among others that only merit should be the basis for granting admissions into TVE programs if it must lead to the acquisition of adequate entrepreneurial skill for technology and economic development.