THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

This study investigates the role of entrepreneurship education on women's participation in entrepreneurial activities in Edo State, Nigeria. Amid rising unemployment and economic challenges, entrepreneurship has emerged as a viable path to economic empowerment, particularly for women. Despite the integration of entrepreneurship education into Nigeria’s educational system, women’s participation in business remains limited due to socio-cultural,
financial, and structural barriers. This research examines how different forms of entrepreneurship education—formal education, vocational training, business workshops, and mentorship programs—affect women’s entrepreneurial engagement. The study employed a descriptive survey design; with a sample of 400 women entrepreneurs selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Findings reveal that entrepreneurship education significantly influences women's participation in entrepreneurship, accounting for 53.9% of the variation in their engagement. Formal education and mentorship programs were found to be the most impactful, followed by vocational training and business workshops. However, challenges such as limited access to capital, cultural and gender norms, lack of mentorship, and high market competition continue to hinder women’s full entrepreneurial participation. The study recommends the expansion of gender-sensitive entrepreneurship education, improved access to funding, stronger mentorship networks, and policy reforms to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment for women.