ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILL ACQUISITION REQUIRED BY BUSINESS EDUCATION GRADUATES FOR EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN IMO STATE

Abstract

 The study was designed to determine entrepreneur skill acquisition on employment generation of business education graduates in Imo State. This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 48 Business educators from Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri and Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo. There was no sampling since the population was manageable. Three research questions and three hypotheses was raised and tested. The study utilized a validated four point scale questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.78 using cronbach alpha analysis, mean and standard deviation was used to analyze the data collected to answer the research questions while the hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test statistic. The findings of the study revealed that entrepreneurs skill of planning, communication, management, goal setting, problem solving, risk bearing among others are needed for employment generation by business education graduates. The study also identified some challenges such as poor infrastructure and facilities, poor teaching methods, lack of finance among others affect the abilities of the graduates in utilizing the skills for employment generation. The study further proffered solution to the challenges identified.

Keywords: Entrepreneur, Skill Acquisition, Employment Generation and Business Education.