Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Self-Employment Initiatives among Nigerian Science & Technology Students

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education is introduced into Nigeria educational system to provide the necessary skills, competence, understanding, and prepare the Nigerian graduate for self-reliant, thereby contributing in nation building. This paper examines the effect of entrepreneurship education on self-employment initiatives among science and technology students of Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Data obtained for analyses was obtained through self-administered questionnaires. In addition, simple percentage ranking, correlation and regression analysis techniques were used to analyse the questionnaires. The result obtained indicates that entrepreneurship education is a good policy and it has positive effect on self-employment initiatives. This study recommends that students should be encouraged beyond entrepreneurship school training projects to business ventures start-ups at micro and small-levels. Also, the Polytechnic management should collaborate with existing entrepreneurs and business organizations in providing entrepreneurship training to the students. Lastly, the polytechnic management, the government and other stakeholders can give special recognition, awards and sponsorship assistance as motivation to students whose projects are realistically outstanding. This will stimulate self-employment drives among graduates.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education, self-employment initiatives, science and technology students.