Entrepreneurship Education versus Sustainable Economic Development in 21st Century Africa

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education constitutes a vital curriculum instrument which could be employed in addressing issues and problems which lead to Economic Development in Africa. As most of our tertiary education grandaunts currently appear to be marginalized in the scheme of socio economic and developmental endeavours in this continent, entrepreneurial skills germane for generating self-employment could be explored as a very good alternative to wage employment. This line of thought could go a long way, not only in arresting the soaring unemployment rate in the Africa but could also contribute in enabling African countries overcome or solve a number of problems or issues which are at stake in the course of our march towards sustainable development. This paper does claim to be conclusive but presents important issues for careful reflection, to provoke discussion on the discourses on the relevancy of entrerpreneuship education to economic development of Africa. The paper is not empirical but it is located in sound knowledge and careful observation within African economic development in a global world as viewed by the writer. The paper raises issues around entrepreneurship education and economic development in Africa. Thus it has examined the concept of entrepreneurship education and its relationship economic development particularly in this age of globalization in Africa. It equally analyses the entrepreneurship role in contending Socio-economic development in African countries and made some recommendation on how to utilise this variable to make African Educational system achieve its Socio-economic aims and objectives and make African Countries grate in the nearest future. Methodically, the paper is a product of careful observation and reflections on direct participation in Higher education production and conclusion from studies in the fields of entrepreneurship education and human values in Africa.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n5p155