INFLUENCE OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME SKILLS ONTHEEMPLOYABILITY OPPORTUNITY OF BUSINESS EDUCATIONSTUDENTSIN UNIVERSITIES IN EDO STATE

This study examined the influence of Industrial Training Programme (ITP) skills on the employ ability opportunities of Business Education students in universities in Edo State, Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 213 Business Education undergraduate students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Ambrose Alli University (AAU), and because the population was manageable, a census was used. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire titled Influence of Industrial Training Programme Skills on Employability Opportunities of Business Education Students Questionnaire(IITPSEOBESQ). The instrument was validated by experts and reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.70. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Findings revealed that communication skills, interpersonal skills, information and communication technology (ICT) skills, and technical and vocational skills acquired during industrial training all influence the employability opportunities of Business Education students to a high extent. The study concluded that industrial training significantly enhances students’ readiness for the labour market by equipping them with essential practical and soft skills needed for employment and career development. It was recommended that universities strengthen supervision of industrial training, improve partnerships with industries, and ensure students are placed in relevant organizations to enhance skill acquisition and employability outcomes.