Thesis Abstract

Entrepreneurial education has gained significant attention in recent years as a means to foster self-reliance among individuals. This research explores the relationship between entrepreneurial education and self-reliance, aiming to provide insights into how educational programs can empower individuals to become more self-reliant through entrepreneurship. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to gather data from participants. The quantitative surveys assess participants' perceptions of their entrepreneurial skills, self-reliance levels, and the impact of entrepreneurial education on their self-reliance. The qualitative interviews delve deeper into the experiences and perspectives of participants regarding how entrepreneurial education has influenced their self-reliance. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between entrepreneurial education and self-reliance. Participants who have undergone entrepreneurial education programs demonstrate higher levels of self-reliance compared to those without such educational experiences. The development of entrepreneurial skills, such as opportunity recognition, creativity, risk-taking, and problem-solving, plays a crucial role in enhancing individuals' sense of self-reliance. Moreover, the qualitative data highlight the transformative nature of entrepreneurial education in fostering self-reliance. Participants describe how learning about entrepreneurship has not only equipped them with practical skills but also instilled a mindset of independence and resourcefulness. By encouraging individuals to take initiative, adapt to challenges, and create their opportunities, entrepreneurial education cultivates a sense of self-reliance that extends beyond business endeavors into various aspects of life. The study also identifies several factors that contribute to the effectiveness of entrepreneurial education in promoting self-reliance. These include the relevance of the curriculum to real-world challenges, the quality of teaching and mentorship, access to resources and networks, as well as opportunities for hands-on experiential learning. Additionally, the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset characterized by resilience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from failures is emphasized as a key component of developing self-reliance through education. In conclusion, entrepreneurial education plays a vital role in nurturing self-reliance by equipping individuals with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to navigate uncertainties and seize opportunities. By integrating entrepreneurial principles into educational programs, institutions can empower individuals to become more self-reliant, adaptable, and proactive in pursuing their goals and aspirations.

Thesis Overview

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The activities of entrepreneurial education in the empowerment of youths in Nigeria have increased overtime. Gone are those days during the era of oil-boom back in the 1970s when a graduate gets easily absorbed into any available job vacancies. But all these changed in the mid-1980s, with worldwide depression and significant depression in the Nigeria’s economy. This resulted in unemployment around the world, most especially developing countries such as Nigeria.

The outcome of the high rate of unemployment was social vices like armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom. More recent is the global economic meltdown that led to youth and graduate unemployment to hit the roof. In this regards, various governmental and non-governmental organizations have initiated policies through support agencies such as National Directorate for Employment (NDE), the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Raw Materials and Development Council (RMRDC) among others to address the problems of unemployment among Nigerian citizens (Olayinka 2010, Emmanuel 2012, Akluemonkhan, Raimi and Sofoluwe 2013).

The aim of these programmes, agencies and councils was with the belief that the development of self-employment and small enterprise initiatives would unlock the economic potentials of the people increase the capacity to empower and equip individuals in society to participate and benefit from their national economy as well as facilitates economic development which forms the bases for transformation (Ekpo and Edet 2011 in Babatunde and Babatunde 2014). Admittedly, in line with the National Productively Day of 21st February, 1991 theme of “Productivity for Self-Reliance and Excellence”, the Nigeria government introduced entrepreneurship education in schools as a pathway to stimulate self-sufficiency, self-sustainability and self-support culture in students.

The aim is to ensure graduates take advantage of personal resourcefulness to be self-employed. This is because entrepreneurship concerns the persistent pursuit of opportunities to create wealth through innovative creation of a product or service that meets customers’ needs, using score resources in a way that results in a growth enterprise which satisfies the expectation of stakeholders whose roles sustain the business. Entrepreneurship education provides knowledge, skills attitude and motivation to students for entrepreneurial success in any setting. It equips people with the ability to seek investment opportunities (Azonuche and Umeri, 2012). The study in this regard wishes to examine entrepreneurial education and self reliance among youth in akwa Ibom state.

1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

What really instigated the study on entrepreneurial education and self reliance among youth in Akwa Ibom state was as a result of high crime rate and unemployment in akwa Ibom state. The rate of unemployment has significantly affected the socio-economic well being of the youth in Nigeria (Okon, 2004). Most research has been done on entrepreneurial education but just very few have been done on entrepreneurial education and self-reliance in Nigeria.

Previous studies have failed to identify the causes of poor self-reliance among youths in Nigeria; the effect is seen mostly among graduates in Nigeria.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of the research is to examine entrepreneurial education and self reliance among youths in Akwa Ibom State. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial education and self-reliance

2. to determine the effect of entrepreneurial education on well being of youths in Akwa Ibom State

3. to determine the contribution of entrepreneurial education to skills acquisition and reduction of unemployment among youths in Akwa Ibom State.

4. to investigate on the factors affecting self-reliance and the actualization of entrepreneurial education in Akwa Ibom State.

5. to proffer solution to the above stated problem

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

1. What is the relationship between entrepreneurial education and self-reliance?

2. What is the effect of entrepreneurial education on well being of youths in Akwa Ibom State?

3. What are the contribution of entrepreneurial education to skills acquisition and reduction of unemployment among youths in Akwa Ibom State?

4. What are the factors affecting self-reliance and the actualization of entrepreneurial education in Akwa Ibom State?

1.5 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: Entrepreneurial education does not influence self-reliance among youths in Akwa Ibom State

H1: Entrepreneurial education influences self-reliance among youths in Akwa Ibom State

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The significance of this study brings to the fore the crucial need for entrepreneurial education and self reliance in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole, putting more consideration on the educational system, strategies and its eventual social developmental effect in the society.

The study highlights the problems of the level of education in the country and its equivalence to level of poverty in the society by virtue of lack of employment or knowledge of how to startup businesses; the resultant effect of which is a society that breeds healthy partnership and motivation, impacting on the development in the nation.

However, the contribution of this research work to knowledge identifies what is important to the youths and the economy of Nigeria, which is qualitative entrepreneurial education focused on the needs of the youths especially during this period of unemployment, rather than the resolution of the United Nations to increase budgetary details, increasing the people that go through school. This is not the study on entrepreneurial education and self reliance; however, it contributes to the body of literature on the subject area and brings to light the results in order to ascertain which strategy would eventually work for the youths in akwa Ibom state in truly eradicating unemployment in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study examines the role of entrepreneurial education and self reliance among youths in Akwa Ibom State, its significance in the stimulation of the entrepreneurship skills in future graduates in order to reduce unemployment in Nigeria. The study considered the undergraduates of the current university teaching system (University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State), from third to the final year, assumably those who gained admission into the university in the last three (3) years. The study considers entrepreneurial skills of undergraduate to be relevant because of its immediate impact on the future of Nigeria.