International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations ISSN 2348-7585 (Online) Vol. 7, Issue 2, pp: (1289-1297), Month: October 2019 - March 2020, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Entrepreneurial Training and Graduate Unemployment Reduction in Anambra State, Nigeria 1
DIKE CHINYELU Q.E, 2AMOBI DENNIS S.C (Ph.D) 1
Department of Public Administration
2
Professor, Department of Public Administration, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State , Nigeria chinyeludike@gmail.com
Abstract: This study investigated entrepreneurial training and graduate unemployment reduction in Anambra state, Nigeria. The decision to embark on this study was motivated by the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, especially among the youth. The specific objectives of the study are, among others, to ascertain the effect of entrepreneurial curriculum development on graduate unemployment reduction in Anambra State, Nigeria and to examine the extent to which access to funding facilitates students’ entrepreneurial engagement in Anambra state, Nigeria. Based on the above objectives, three research questions and hypotheses were formulated and tested for the study. Relevant literatures were thoroughly reviewed and the study was anchored on the Expectancy Theory by Victor H Vroom (1964). Data were collected from a sample size of 394, drawn from a population of 27652 using the Taro Yamane formula. The data collected were presented using simple percentage and the hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation statistical tool. The study found out, among others, that entrepreneurial curriculum development has an effect on graduate unemployment reduction in Anambra State. The study therefore, recommended that curriculum development on entrepreneurship in tertiary institutions should be expanded to include current entrepreneurial opportunities like digital marketing and sales, ICT, web development, digital data management etc. This is in addition to consolidating on the traditional skill acquisition schemes like baking, craftsmanship, among others. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Training and Graduate Unemployment.
1. INTRODUCTION Entrepreneurship, all over the world, is believed to be catalyst for economic growth and an antidote to unemployment. The emergence of competitive environment fostered by globalization and entrepreneurial phenomenon appears critical both at local and national level (Agu, Anidiobu & Ezinwa, 2016). Entrepreneurship generates growth because it serves as a vehicle for innovation, change, and a conduit for knowledge spill overs. Thus, in an era of increased globalization, the comparative advantages of modern economies are shifting towards knowledge based economic activity. Thus, entrepreneurship becomes an instructive recommendation for economic growth and development. The progress of a nation is a function of the level of the resourcefulness of the people which to a great extent, relates to the level of quality of the training and purposeful development of education in that nation. Such progress or development could only occur when an individual in the society is gainfully employed and per capita income is enhanced. This could only be possible when government educational policies are geared towards a functional education that can lead to job creation and economic self-reliance. Entrepreneurship education is therefore, a means through which government could attain such development in the society (Maina, 2013). Entrepreneurial training involves the willingness of persons to persistently pursue the opportunity to create wealth. This is done through innovative creation of products or services that will meet customers’ needs, using scarce resources judiciously in a way that results in the growth of enterprise which satisfies the expectations of stakeholders (Agu, Anidiobu and Ezinwa, 2016). Through this rigorous but rewarding process of education, training and mentorship, the
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