ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES ( A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY OWERRI)
Abstract
This study investigates the role of entrepreneurship education in enhancing entrepreneurial skills among undergraduates in South-Eastern Nigerian federal universities, with a focus on Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). The research addresses concerns over the effectiveness of current entrepreneurship curricula, pedagogies, resource utilization, and infrastructural facilities in developing students’ entrepreneurial competencies. The primary objectives are to evaluate the extent and quality of entrepreneurship education offered, determine its impact on skill development, identify implementation challenges, and propose strategies for improvement. A descriptive survey design was employed, involving a sample of 867 students selected through multi-stage sampling from four universities with established entrepreneurship programs. Data collection was conducted using a structured questionnaire validated by experts, and reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.76. Data analysis involved mean, standard deviation, and t-test statistics at a 0.05 significance level. Key findings reveal that while the entrepreneurship curriculum significantly inculcates entrepreneurial skills, the pedagogical methods and infrastructural facilities are inadequately utilized or provided, limiting effective skill acquisition. The study also finds no significant difference between male and female students’ perceptions regarding curriculum content and impact. Based on these results, it is recommended that universities adopt modern, experiential teaching methods, improve infrastructural resources, and involve industry stakeholders to enhance the quality and impact of entrepreneurship education. The findings underscore the critical need for policy reforms and increased funding to foster a more entrepreneurial-ready undergraduate population, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
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