Entrepreneurship Education for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper stressed the importance of entrepreneurship education towards enhancing an independent and productive living for persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Persons with disabilities are not insulated from the problems facing the country particularly the high rate of poverty, youth and graduate unemployment. The paper noted that although entrepreneurship education is not alien, it has not gained prominence in the curriculum for children with special needs in the school system. Accordingly, the lack of specially trained personnel, absence of an all encompassing curriculum, difficulty raising capital, strategic disadvantages in competing with ‘normal’ entrepreneurs among others were identified as responsible factors. This paper argued that these challenges are surmountable with efforts and collaboration by the government, the target group, curriculum planners, the school, family and society at large. The paper also discussed the prospect of entrepreneurship education for persons with disabilities. The paper concluded that educational programmes for persons with disabilities at all levels of education should be tailored towards providing them with needed entrepreneurial skills.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, education, persons, disabilities, Nigeria.