Entrepreneurship Education and Challenges to Nigerian Universities

Abstract

The entrepreneurship education is a relatively new phenomenon in Nigerian Universities .The objective of this paper is to examine the state and challenges of entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities.  Secondary data, generated through document reading, were used for the analysis. Structural functionalism was adopted as a framework of analysis. It is discovered that though many Nigerian universities have embraced the entrepreneurship education, there is not yet any fundamental change in the teaching and learning process of this important subject. Most of the lecturers have not acquired new and special skills, the teaching methodology has not fundamentally changed from the old system, adequate and appropriate equipment are yet to be procured, the value system which favours certificate acquisition in preference to practical demonstration and ability is still in vogue, the general attitude of the society which favours craze for immediate materialism to functional education is still subsisting. An immediate review of the entrepreneurship curriculum for result oriented skills and functionalism, provision of necessary learning materials and equipment, regular training and retraining of lecturers, orientation for a new and desired value system, improved funding ,among other measures, are recommended for a functional entrepreneurial education in Nigerian universities.

Key words: stimulating environment, relevant skills, functional education and creativity