ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Policy makers and global leaders have been showing increasing interests in entrepreneurship and its connection with human development, economic growth and development. As a reflection of these interests, a handful of entrepreneurship policies and development programs have been established and implemented to promote entrepreneurship and harness the benefits therein. Little wonder, the Nigerian government has over the last three decades implemented some policies and programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship education and boosting entrepreneurial activities in every sector of the economy. Sadly, controversies arise as most of the implemented policies and programs have proved futile and unable to achieve the anticipated results. Hence, this paper stabs to pinpoint the fundamental factors that hinder the efficacy of government efforts at promoting entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. The conceptualization and implementation of entrepreneurship education and development programs by the Nigerian government are examined to identify the inherent weaknesses. Drawing from theoretical literature, empirical and anecdotal sources, this paper a f f i r m s t h a t c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n a n d implementation of entrepreneurship education and development programs in Nigeria need finetuning. It campaigns for a distinctive classification to distinguish entrepreneurship from skill acquisition programs, as well as the development and implementation of suitable policies and strategies for entrepreneurial activities. While every sector of the economy needs support and improvements, Nigerian students and prospective entrepreneurs need higher level of support to enable them stir up and rightly channel their entrepreneurial instincts into viable ventures, marketable products and services that would help generate employment and invariably, promote economic growth and development.