ABSTRACT
This study determined entrepreneurial skill required by business education graduates for self-sufficiency and economic stability in university of Benin, Edo State. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The study aimed to assess the key entrepreneurial skills possessed by business education graduates in Nigeria, evaluate the effectiveness of the current business education curriculum in equipping students with entrepreneurial competencies, identify the challenges faced by business education graduates in applying their entrepreneurial skills for self-sufficiency and economic sustainability, propose strategies for improving entrepreneurial training in business education programs to enhance graduate employability and economic sustainability. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. This study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of four hundred and ninety-one (491), 100 level to 400 level Vocational Technical Education students in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. The sample selected for the study was one hundred (100) Vocational and Technical Education (business education) students from the University of Benin. The sampling technique used was proportionate sampling technique in which 20% of the population were proportionately selected. The instrument that was used for the study was a self-structured questionnaire titled "Entrepreneurial Skills Required by Business Education Graduates for Self sufficiency and Economic Sustainability Questionnaire (ESRBEGSESQ)". The questionnaire was segmented into (A and B). The instrument designed by the researcher was subjected for face validity by the researcher supervisor and two experts from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education (VTE), Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. To establish the reliability of the instrument, it was administered to 20 business education students from Ambrose Alli University who were not part of the study and thereafter Cronbach alpha statistical tool was used to ascertain the internal consistency. It yielded an alpha value of 0.87 which indicated that the instrument as reliable. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that entrepreneurial skill required by business education graduates for self-sufficiency and economic stability are financial management, business planning, risk assessment and digital marketing skills. In other words, when business education graduates are not equipped with these relevant entrepreneurial skills they are likely to be unemployed and as such engage in social vices. It was therefore recommended that; Government should ensure that funds are made available for entrepreneurial programs, The management of institutions should ensure modalities for practical exposure and digital skills training are incorporated into the curriculum, Students must be exposed to real-world business experiences, mentorship, and networking opportunities, Business educators should encourage innovation, problem- solving, and risk management skills
