Repositioning Nigerian Youths for Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Education

"...what are the possible challenges that will arise in getting Nigerian youths empowered to acquire skills and ideas for the sake of creating employment for themselves and others? To what extent can Nigeria face the critical challenge for the development of small, medium and large scale businesses that will later metamorphose into national development among Nigerian youths?"

These questions drive this paper, which examines: the role of entrepreneurship education among adolescents in national development, constraints that could hinder youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, and strategies for promoting effective entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. In the context section, author Jane Itohan Oviawe notes that, "[t]hrough the process involved in entrepreneurship, success habits are imparted as the person develops entrepreneurial integrity. Entrepreneurship skills are equally learnt in the process." She defines an entrepreneur as "a person who in the bid to survive makes profit and owns his/her own business." Oviawe characterises a young entrepreneur as someone with confidence and a creative spirit who is willing to take risks, has initiative, and is engergised by an inner drive.

Oviawe argues that entrepreneurship training is not just skill acquisition for acquisition sake but, rather, that it provides practical applications for students, creates jobs, and reduces crime that might be exacerbated by youth unemployment. She believes that there is currently a mismatch between what the Nigerian economy needs and what Nigerian youths are studying in schools: "Nigerian education is presently at a crossroad as far as producing individuals who will work to deserve and justify their pay, work independently, globally and bring creativity into their work place." There are several factors that hinder entrepreneurship education in Nigeria, such as "non-inclusion of entrepreneurship programme in the school curricula". One strategy for addressing constraints such as this one is linking adolescents with mentors so that they can get access to information and skills.

In conclusion, Oviawe stresses that, to work toward eradicating unemployment among young Nigerians, skills building is needed that can "transform them into confident, aggressive and purposeful individuals." The ideal training package would include a strong scientific, technical, and factual base with good background information and research skills. The individuals who opt for non-degree training in skill acquisition with entrepreneurial background should not be left out, she says. The goal would be to imbue aspiring entrepreneurs with "strong skills in business planning, finance and accounting, as well as ability to create new and innovative marketing plans that utilize modern communication technology. Desired attitudes for Nigeria would be entrepreneurs include a respect for democratic principles and the legal processes of our nation and the highest level of integrity and ethics."