Entrepreneurship Education: A Viable Tool for Youth Empowerment in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined entrepreneurship education as a veritable tool for youth empowerment in Nigeria. As the nation is presently experiencing challenges of unemployment, insecurity, and high rate of poverty, the study observed that one of the most efficient ways to empower the youth is through entrepreneurship education. The objectives of entrepreneurship education includes but not limited to equipping individual and creates in the person the mindset to undertake the risk of venturing into something new by applying the knowledge and skills acquired in schools. The paper took a critical look at the roles of entrepreneurship education such as provision of individual with adequate training that will enable creativity and innovative relevance to skill acquisition which encourages self employment and self-reliant. It reviewed some techniques of acquiring entrepreneurship skills which includes industrial training exercise, workshop/seminar, excursion and this aid in the empowerments of youth and consequently eradication of poverty and extreme hunger. The paper identified challenges facing entrepreneurship education such as inadequate funding, lack of trained teachers, and non- availability of equipment. The paper recommended that the curriculum at all levels of education should be entrepreneurial based and that all stakeholders and government should provide enabling environment for the development of entrepreneurship education needed for economic enhancement and youth empowerment in Nigeria.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n4p11