ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION FOR SELF RELIANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT

The study examined Entrepreneurship Education for Self Reliance and Economic Development: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the relationship between entrepreneurship teaching methodologies, entrepreneurship knowledge and entrepreneurship skill and the self-reliance of students and economic development. The survey research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study covered undergraduate students in the eight department in faculty of Management Sciences of the University of Benin. Yamane's formula was used to determine the sample size for the study, a sample size of 355 respondent was established. The 355 questionnaires were distributed and retrieved from the undergraduate students. The data collected through questionnaire administration was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation. Regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis, correlation analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The study revealed that there is a significant impact of entrepreneurship knowledge, entrepreneurship skill and teaching methodologies on self reliance of students when students are exposed to information and skills for job creation in entrepreneurship education, with a strong concomitant implication for the economic growth. The study recommended that workable education policy should be provided with a proper training and re-training programmes for teachers. Government should continue to support financially by creating channels that would ensure grant and interest free loan, mentor students through effective programmes like workshop, seminar and other effective channels.