ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION, A TOOL FOR

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

BY:

KUTI USMAN OBALEKAN

A PAPER PRESENTED AS PART FULFILMENT FOR THE

REQUIREMENT OF THE COURSE “ADVANCE MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION” (BED 706).

TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION,

COLLEGE OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES,
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT,
BUSINESS EDUCATION UNIT.

LECTURER IN CHARGE:
DR. (MRS) K.O. ODUNAIKE

Abstract

National development is one of such major challenges faced by the

government of every nation but the present situation in Nigeria posed
serious threats and challenges to both, government and well meaning
citizen. Entrepreneurship education has been embraced by almost all
the developed countries and its capabilities and efficacy in springing
up economy is not in doubt. It is believe that entrepreneurship
education if given a priority focus will immensely contributes in the
development of the country. The uniqueness of the paper is providing
entrepreneurship education framework as an explanation of what and
how it should be rather than what it is. It also challenges policy
makers on the need to refocus their policies on entrepreneurship
education as a problem solving tool rather than maintaining the status
quo.

2
Introduction

Entrepreneurship development through education has been receiving

attention globally. Several attempt have been made through
researches, mounting of entrepreneurship courses, programmes in
both institutions of learning and entrepreneurship research centers for
the purpose of developing both entrepreneurship spirit and culture
(Akpomi 2009; Adejimola and Olufunmilayo 2009; Dickson, 2008). In
this regard effort has to be intensified to mobilize and enhance
entrepreneurial activity which will consequently benefit individuals,
government, and the society at large. The issue of poverty eradication
has been a top priority of many government and institutions especially
in developing countries where extreme poverty is conspicuous and
became pandemic. According to Akpomi 2009,, stated that. Poverty
and unemployment are among the major development problems that
face every developing economy in the 21st century.

In Nigeria today, the increasing rate of poverty, unemployment,

corruption and so many other social problems become worrisome to
the government and to every well meaning Nigerian citizen. Therefore,
the need apparent change is very desirable and necessary for the
country to move to forget ahead and to meet up with the global
challenges. The integration of economies through globalization process
any government or state that hesitate or vacillates on whether to
imbibe the culture of change will certainly create standstill not only at
the detriment of its country but to the larger global community.
Incidence of poverty in Nigeria is on the high side, Where 90% of the
total population has been classified as poor (Nigeria entrepreneurship

3
initiative, 2009; Ewhrudjakpor, 2008). This rate of poverty is however
accentuated by the increasing rate of unemployment, high level of
illiteracy, corruption and bad governance among others. Therefore, as
a panacea to this problem, entrepreneurship has been identified” as a
means of providing employment and income generation in the country.

The problem of unemployment is particularly pathetic as the number

of those coming out from various institutions looking for employment
opportunity is increasing day to day. The situation in Nigeria is of such
concern that hundreds of unemployment university graduates mounted
a demonstration in front of the presidential offices to express their
concern. They demanded that government provide them with jobs for
them to cater for their essential needs of life. It is pertinent to note
that education has been a means to an end: It can simply be a tool for
securing employment and emancipation of people through the
provision and acquiring of necessary knowledge and skills to make
lives more flourishing. The objective of this paper is to emphasize the
need and importance of entrepreneurship education, which will serve
as a panacea to some social economic problems.

Entrepreneurship Education

Entrepreneurship education is obviously an act of inculcating

knowledge ideas into different individuals about how to float, invest in
and manage a business for self-employment and with profit motive.
Entrepreneurship has been recognized as an important aspect and
functional area of an organization and economy (Dickson 2008),it
contributes in an immeasurable ways toward creating new job, wealth
creation, poverty reduction, and income generation for both
government and individuals. Entrepreneurship is very significant to

4
growth and development of any economy (Keister, 2005). Having
understood the vital role of entrepreneurship in the economy, we
assume here that there is a positive relationship between education
and individual’s choice to become an entrepreneur as well as the result
and outcome of his or her entrepreneurial activity.

The move toward poverty reduction should not be considered and

treated in isolation, different approach and strategies need to be
employed. For any country to foster genuine economic growth and
development, its education system must be considered as basis and
essential ingredient. Education is undisputedly considered as the
bedrock of any meaningful development.

Adejimola and Olufunmilayo (2009) reported that about, 80% of the

graduates Find it difficult to get employment every year. And at the
same time much has not been done in trying to bring collaboration
between the entrepreneurs and the institutions.

Human capital theory provides a framework for examining the impact

of acquired variables such as education, learning and experience on
career outcomes and it was further develop on the assumption that
education can serve as it key determinant of decision choice and
providing benefits to specific ventures (Dickson, 2008). Generally most
of the theories examined on this topic assumed education as a means
of enhancing managerial capabilities and generating broader option of
making entrepreneurial selection lesser or great value (Dickson,
2008).

In cognizance of this fact Adejimola and Olufunmilayo,(2009), defined

education as a view to create and enhance the supply of
entrepreneurial initiative and activities. i.e. to Inculcate the spirit of
entrepreneurship in the student through education. In fact this calls for

5
more serious adjustment of policies and new curriculum in line with
demand of the present time.

Nigeria Educational Policy and Entrepreneurship

The Nigerian educational policy was aimed at producing Nigerians who

can read and write to hold certain positions such as clerks,
interpreters, inspectors etc. without any entrepreneurial or
professional skill to stand on their own or even establish and manage
their own venture. The Nigeria industrial policy that came immediately
after independence place emphasis and concentrated attention on the
establishment of big companies by completely neglecting the
development of small scale sectors (Aladekomo, 2004). This neglect
invariably means killing entrepreneurship at the micro level in Nigeria
at the very beginning, which is consider to be a very essential
[ economic growth and development. The over pressing demand for
white collar job for majority of graduates is just an upshot of colonial
educational policies.

However, later in the mid 70s the government because of perceived

importance of small scale industries to the economy decides to focus
attention on small and medium sector. Thirteen industrial centers and
some institutions where set up to support the activities entrepreneurs
in the small and medium industries in the country. Institutions set up
were: Nigeria Industrial Bank (NIB), Nigeria Bank for Commerce and
Industries (NBCI), Nigeria Agricultural and cooperative Bank (NACB)
etc. In the 1981 National policy of education attempt h been made by
the government to link the policy with the issue of self employment
and the industrial policy. But then, the main focus was only on primary
and secondary schools only. The Higher education policy was deficient
in the sense that it failed to take issue of self employment at tertiary
level.

6
The need of education in the developmenta1 effort of any nation
cannot be underestimated. The development of educational sector is
sine-qua non for the development in all other sectors. Adamu (2001)
asserted that “development in any society is anchored primarily to
education process’. Sule (2004) is of the opinion that education is a
sure pathway to liberation of the mind and the improvement of Socio
economic status of people. It also follows that education and training
help individuals to be empowered and escape poverty by providing
them with the skills and knowledge to raise their output, income and
wealth (Aliu, 2007). Various government and international agencies
are making serious effort in both developed and underdeveloped to
optimally develop the education Sector. Although, a number of
achievements have been recorded in this regard, yet a lot of effort is
needed to meet up with the ever increasing demands of the present
and of course the future challenges.While acknowledging the necessity
and important role of school in shaping our culture, we have equally
understood that a serious departure is needed from hitherto traditional
way of doing things especially the manner of training and method of
teaching in all our schools.

The term entrepreneurship means different things to different people

and with varying conceptual perspectives. However, it is important to
know that in spite of these differences, there are some common
aspects such as risk taking creativity, independence and rewards.
Therefore the question here is how, do we harness, inculcate and
develop the entrepreneurial career of the younger generations and
also improve their potentials toward entrepreneurial skills which will
consequently foster economic growth and development.

Entrepreneurship and national development

7
Entrepreneurship has its role in the growth and development of a
nation. Adewale(2004) describes the following as some contributions
of entrepreneurship to national development:

1. Tax payment: Some businesses pay taxes to the

government which are used in the provision of essential
services for public consumption.

2. Employment: Apart from self-employment of the

owner(entrepreneur) of the business, entrepreneurship helps
to employ some workers and thus solving unemployment
problem.

3. Reduction in vices: It is often said that” devil finds work for

the idle hands”. Employment of people no doubt helps to
engage people who would otherwise go into crimes and
societal vices such as robbery, advance fee fraud, raping,
touting e.t.c.

4. Standard of living: There is no gainsaying the fact that

entrepreneurship helps to increase or improve the standard of
living of people when they earn income to buy goods and
services.The availability of goods and services which
entrepreneurship produces helps to improve peoples standard
of living.

5. Motivation: People with special talents and endowments as

in music and art works are motivated and encouraged to
produce goods and services.

6. Experience/ Training: Entrepreneurs and their employees

are provided with experience and training in production
activities and administrative activities. A good knowledge is
also acquired in doing many things, thereby enabling

8
 employees the opportunity of becoming self-employed
themselves later.

Entrepreneurial Careers Selection in Schools

There is much effort and enthusiasm to teach entrepreneurship course

using wide range of method such as venture creation by students,
developing formal business plan, creating out feasibility study etc.
(Vincent and Farlow 2008; Dickson, 2008).

In their opinion Adejimola and Olufunmilayo (2009) Lamented that

“the developed countries education system emphasizes the trial of
inquiry—discovery, application in teaching”. It is very apparent that
both challenges and opportunities are bound to tap, exploit and
possibly turn it into goods and services of commercial values (Giwa,
2008; Adeyemi 2006 in Adejiniola and Olufunmilayo, 2009).

The task of Universities and other institutions where entrepreneurship

education need to the taught, Daodu (2007) in Akpomi (2009) make
an investigation on the modalities of using entrepreneurship education
as a strategy or instrument for channeling necessary energies of the
Nigeria Universities faculties and students away from paid employment
to self employment. Many economic and strategies theories have been
used to provide a framework in which education can be seen as very
important determinant of selection of entrepreneurship or venture
formation for individuals in the course of their studies (Dickson, 2008).

Vincent and Farlow (2002) asserted that there are several attempts to
teach students entrepreneurship using venture creation In order for
the students to acquire business skill and competencies. But not
withstanding those with this kind approach are perhaps small minority.
People also believe that entrepreneurship, behavior can be learned

9
 through experience and discovery (Akpomi, 2009; Vincent and farlow
2002). Hence there is need for learning in which student can
experience aspect of entrepreneur’s way of life.

The issue here is that plan may be inevitable for entrepreneurs to

succeed but emphasis placed by developing business plan by the
students need to be reduced. Students are expected to feel and act as
entrepreneur rather than only assuming or pretending to be. This
effort will certainly strengthen their inspiration and would be
indoctrinated toward the culture of entrepreneurship.

Conceptual Model For Entrepreneurship Education

Societal value Entrepreneurial

and re- skill
development
orientation and training Business
start-up or Entrepreneurship
venture Development
Entrepreneurial creations
Entrepreneurial
Education career/selection

Opportunity
Government/Inst recognition and
itutional support identification

Vincent and Farlow, 2002 (Entrepreneurship development in Nigerian

Education)

This model tries to identify the need to incorporate entrepreneurial

education in order to ameliorate persistent socio-economic problem
especially unemployment among youth and high incidence of poverty
in the country. The need for entrepreneurship education has to be up-
hold by the society and calls for reorientation among students and

10
their teachers. This will ensure debunking and unlearning the earlier
belief of being employed rather than self employment after schooling.
The government is expected to play a greater role in providing the
necessary atmosphere and policy framework for the success of this
transformation process. Students while in school will acquire the
necessary skill and training; identify an opportunity to exploit and
eventual creation of their venture. The aggregation of individual efforts
and emergent large number of business. will promote the economic
growth and development in the country and consequently reduction
socio-economic challenges as mentioned earlier in this paper.

Vincent and Farlow (2002) in their research work identified and

suggested some task of educators which are involve in
entrepreneurship training.

1. Students must have serious business idea: They are of the

opinion that good idea cannot be invented. Normally students
were asked to produce a business plan and their assessment is
basically rest on that. Therefore they are urging to provide a
realistic guided experience of the entrepreneurial life, which can
be done if students are truly committed to their own real ideals
and can actually be entrepreneurs not pretending to he so during
their course.

2. A formal business plan is not required, but planning itself

is important; Honning (2004), Spores (2007) in Vincent and
Farlow (2002) have argued on the position of business plan.
They raised a question on whether formal business plan correlate
with business success. According to them “it may even he
counterproductive, time consuming and perhaps psychologically
diminishing flexibility in the early state of the actual operations”.

11
3. Insist on extensive, direct student contact with outside
community, to validate and optimize the ideas: This
explains the need for students to learn in an uncontrolled
environment which is far from institutional context through
relationship with stakeholders (customer, suppliers and
competitors). The students can modify their ideas based on their
direct experience outside the university or institution. It is the
duty of the educator to make sure that students established
contact with outsiders.

4. The number of business is limited so as to allow a highly

interactive environment: Classroom environment is identified
as a key complement of student entrepreneurial workshop. The
bulk classroom time is devoted to students discussing their
experiences. It allows free flow of business ideas with diverse
concept sand experience. It also provides an opportunity for the
student to experience the creative intuitive and lateral thinking
from various people.

Conclusion

The wide spread and acceptance of entrepreneurship education is a

clear indication of its usefulness and important in the present realities.
The development of entrepreneurship will go a long way in providing
the necessary impetus for economic growth and development. It will
be crucial in boasting productivity, increasing competition and
innovation, creating employment and prosperity and revitalizing
economies

Poverty eradication been the major development challenge facing the

Nigeria government, efforts have been tailored toward re-structuring

12
the Nigeria economy in the light of available resources and business
opportunities. It is proper to mention that policies and programmes n
poverty eradication cannot be formulated and implemented hastily and
frantically. It was discovered that the current education system is
deficient in providing the necessary impetus for development. It also
finds out that same problems keep escalating despite various efforts
by the government to review policies and programmes in the past.

The paper will suggest to other researchers the opportunity to exam

the contributions or impacts of institutions especially of higher learning
in entrepreneurship development in Nigeria.

Recommendations

1. This paper recommends by challenging policy makers on the

need to refocus their policies in problem solving rather than
maintaining the status quo.

2. Schools should be seen not only centers for knowledge creation

and. acquisition but also centers for human empowerment and
development through entrepreneurial skill acquisition and
training. This will greatly assist in changing the psyche of our
students from studying, get certificate and work, but instead
prospective student should think of coming to school acquire
entrepreneurial skill and work for themselves.

3. There is need for complete change in approach in the education

sector particularly in our policy dire and decision making
process, which will pave way for a more realistic and attainable
result.

4. Government should improve in the funding attitude of the

educational sector especially in this specialty as it help national
development.

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5. Students must have a serious business idea, therefore, tutors
should improve on their teaching skills.

References

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entrepreneurship culture among Nigerian university student;

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Adewale, O. (2004). Small business and entrepreneurship. Abeokuta:

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