CHALLENGES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The current economic trends and government policies call for diversification from dependence on oil and white color jobs to self employment and the emergence of young entrepreneurs. This paper discusses the concept of entrepreneurship and the challenges of entrepreneurship education Nigeria. The
following concepts were clarified in this paper: entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship education. The paper carefully x-rays the problems of entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. The strategies for achieving functional entrepreneurial education were discussed which include: incorporation of school-work base learning, adequate funding, development of internship programmes,
establishment of vocational centres, and competency based recruitment of teachers. Entrepreneurship is primarily learned by experience and discovery and that entrepreneurial learning should be conceived as a lifelong process, where knowledge is continuously shaped and revised as new experience take place. It
is against this background that the following recommendations are proffered for effective entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Government should provide enough funds by increasing allocation. Proprietors of private institutions should also seek for alternative means of fund through sponsorship and partnership with industries, NGOs and Philanthropists.

Key words: entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education challenges and strategies.