ENTERPRENEURIAL EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN BORNO STATE. (A CASE STUDY OF RAMAT POLYTECHNIC, MAIDUGURI)"

ABSTRACT This study examined entrepreneurial education as a tool for economic growth and development in Borno State (A Case Study of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri). Specific objectives were guided by four (4) objectives. In the methodology, data used for the study was gathered through primary sources (questionnaire). Random sampling technique was used to select 200 students from the entire population of ND I/NCEII and ND II/NCEIII students of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri. The data obtained in the field was presented in a tabular form and analyzed through the use of a mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study revealed that, entrepreneurial education can serve as a tool for economic growth and development to which the programme can help the institution to generate more revenue and serve as an alternative source of income thereby selling the products produced by the students through entrepreneurship process. Employment can be provided through entrepreneurial education, the programme remain vital in the real sector and the sustenance of economic development whereby the finding indicated that entrepreneurial education will prepare students for future employment challenges and bridge the gap by making them to become self-reliance and functional to their society. Also the study recommended that, educational programmes at all levels should be made relevant to provide the students the needed entrepreneurial skills. Institution should give adequate attention to the full blown entrepreneurial education as a course. However, institutions should start to commercialize their product manufactured and research findings, instead of leaving them on the shelves. Youths should be exposed to training in technology, especially new discoveries from time to time. This keep them in tune with trends of the technological world.