EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS IN BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY, MAKURDI, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study investigated the effect of entrepreneurship education on business education students in Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State. Specially, the study examined the perceived benefits of entrepreneurship education, perceived challenges, and students’ business intentions and improving entrepreneurship education to better equip business education students in Benue State University, Makurdi for entrepreneurship. Four (4) research questions and four (4) research hypotheses respectively guided the study. The review of related literature which was done under the conceptual framework indentified the effect of perceived benefits of entrepreneurship education, perceived challenges, and students’ business intentions and improving entrepreneurship education to better equip business education students in Benue State University, Makurdi. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight (1628) students from Benue State University, Makurdi. A sample of Two hundred and ninety-eight (296) students from Benue State University, Makurdi, was used for the study. A 20-items structured questionnaire constructed by the researcher titled "Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Business Education Students Questionnaire (EEBEBSQ)" was used for data collection. A reliability estimate of 0.83 was established for the instruments. Descriptive statistics of Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions while the Chi-Square (X2) statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that perceived benefits of entrepreneurship education, perceived challenges, and students’ business intentions and improving entrepreneurship education to better equip business education students, significantly influenced on business education students in Benue State University, Makurdi. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others, the management of Benue State University, Makurdi, should ensure that entrepreneurship education programs are provided to students with a comprehensive entrepreneurial experience that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills and mentorship, preparing them for success as entrepreneurs. The educational administrators should adopt a holistic approach to entrepreneurship education, providing students with practical entrepreneurial experiences, mentorship, and resources and finally, the Management of Benue State University, Makurdi, should revamp their entrepreneurship education programs to include industry-relevant curriculum, experiential learning, and collaborative partnerships with entrepreneurs, industry experts and government agencies, ensuring that students are adequately prepared with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to succeed as entrepreneurs. Conclusion were made and implication of the findings drawn.