Page 1 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 159
A Critical Analysis of the Role of Entrepreneurship
Education in Nigeria
Ajayi Adeola
ajayifunso4christ@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper analysed the role of
entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. It
reviewed literature on concept of
entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship
education in Nigeria. This was necessitated
by the need to ensure successful
implementation of entrepreneurship
education in Nigeria. The paper revealed
that entrepreneurship education is the central
pillar to economic growth and development
as well as equip the youth with skills to be
self-reliant This paper argued
entrepreneurship education is the only
panacea for youth unemployment in the
country. The paper recommended that the
Nigeria government should give adequate
attention to full blown entrepreneurial
education in Nigeria
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Education,
Unemployment, Poverty, Programmes.
Economic Growth
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Entrepreneurs are not born rather they
become through the experience of their
lives. Entrepreneurship education seeks to
prepare people, especially youths to be
responsible enterprising individuals who
contribute to economic development and
sustainable communities (Arogundade,
2011)
According to Nwachukwu and Nwamuo
(2010), entrepreneurship education enables
youths to become capable of living in the
society and contributes towards its economic
development.
It is on this note that this paper assessed the
role of entrepreneurship education in
Nigeria and make recommendations on the
way forward. Firstly, the paper reviewed
literature on the concept of entrepreneurship
and entrepreneurship education in Nigeria.
Secondly, objectives of entrepreneurship
education were identified. Thirdly, the role
of entrepreneurship education was
Page 2 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 160
discussed. Finally, the conclusion and
recommendations towards ensuring a full
blown entrepreneurship education and
development in Nigeria.
1.2 Objectives of the paper
The objectives of the paper are to
i. analyze the role of entrepreneurship
education in Nigeria.
ii. review existing literature on
entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship
education in Nigeria.
iii. identify the objectives and role of
entrepreneurship education to the country ;
and
iv. recommend solutions to full blown
entrepreneurship education in the Nigeria.
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Concept of Entrepreneurship
UNDP (2010) defined entrepreneurship as
the process of using a private initiative or a
business concept into a new venture or to
diversify an existing ventures or enterprise
with high growth potential. To Shane
(2010), entrepreneurship is the act of being
an entrepreneur.
Baba (2013) described entrepreneurship as
the act of starting a company arranging
business deals and taking risks in order to
make profit through the education skills
acquired. The entrepreneurship spirit is a
pre-requisite to an entrepreneurial society
and culture. This spirit is revealed for the
overall economic growth of any nation
especially developing ones like Nigeria
(Baba, 2013).
To Aruwa (2004), it is the ability of some
people to accept risk and combine factors
of production in order to produce goods
and services. It can also be seen as the
willingness and ability of an individual to
seek out investment opportunities in an
environment and be able to establish and
run an enterprise successfully based on the
identified opportunities.
Robert (2002) described entrepreneurship
as the process of creating something
different with value by devoting the
necessary time and effort, and social risk
and receiving the rewards of monetary and
personal satisfaction.
Esomonu (1998) also defined
entrepreneurship as the effective
manipulation of human intelligence as in a
creative. This singular risk raking act leads
an individual to create something of value
from practically nothing.
Gana (2001) referred to entrepreneurship as
the ability to seek investment opportunities
and establish based on identified
opportunities. In order words, the
Page 3 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 161
individual gives the market place a product
or services by using resources in a new
way.
Roce (2009) identified four characteristics
of an entrepreneurship. They include:
Desire for independence
Self confidence
Willingness to take risk
Ability to recognize opportunity
2.2 Entrepreneurship Education
There appears to exist a consensus among
scholars that entrepreneurship education
and training
has a vital role to play in the development
of entrepreneurial skills.
Shephered and Douglas (1997) described
entrepreneurship education as the ability to
envision
envision and chart a course for a new
business venture by combing information
from the
functional discipline and from the external
environment in the context of the extra
ordinary
uncertainty and ambiguity which faces a
new business venture.
Owuala (1999) referred to entreneurship
education as a planned, systematic and
sustained effort at inculcating and nurturing
the entrepreneurial spirit among Nigeria so
as to produce a pool of willing, able and
successful entrepreneurs.
He also added that entrepreneurship
education is a programme that prepares
individual to
undertake the acquisition of small-business.
NOUN (2013) entrepreneurship education
is a planned systematic and sustaining and
inculcating
and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit
among Nigerians so as to produce a pool of
willing, able
and successful entrepreneurs.
Zimmer (2006) stressed that the goal of
entrepreneurial education is to equip
students with
entrepreneurial skills needed to own
enterprises and sustain them. This he
argued will make
students to discover their entrepreneurial
talents and be guided to take the risk of
starting a
