ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Small and medium scale enterprise is meant to stimulate economicgrowth through its contribution to Gross Domestic Product, poverty reduction and employment creation. The study explained the impact of SME's in Nigeria on Gross Domestic Product. Secondary data were obtained from national Bureau of Statistics on Gross Domestic Product, commercial bank loans to SME's and unemployment rate for eight years 2010-2017. These data were analyzed and presented using ordinary least square method. The study revealed that SME's funding has insignificant relationship or marginal impact on Gross Domestic Product and it was recommended that SME's contribution to Gross Domestic Product can be improved by increase in SME's access to finance through removal of encumbrances that impede access, this should be policies directive that expand and encourage SME's development.

This research work evaluates the extent of development in Entrepreneurship in a depressed economy like Nigeria. A closer and pragmatic approach was used by using Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI) Enugu State Chapter. NASSI has been seen as one of the nation’s governmental agency involved in manpower development and training and financing small-scale industrialists. The objectives of the study are to critically analyze the activities of entrepreneurs in Enugu, in relation to the overall objective of government programmes and policies, to know how the efforts of government to develop entrepreneurship is progressing, to identify the problems that has been militating against the development of entrepreneurship in Enugu and Prefer solutions. It was found that the development of entrepreneurs is now taking a formal footing as a result of the increased rate of response by the average entrepreneur in Enugu. From the research, it was observed that about over a 3,000 (three thousand) persons have gotten various trainings Nigeria association of small-scale industrialists (NASSI).Consequently, the research solicits for NASSI to be more pragmatic in their operation vis-à-vis the decree of which they were established and then government in its own effort to try and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship development. In this word Abraham Maslow (A psychologist known for his theories regarding human needs) “indicated that the most valuable 100 people to bring into deteriorating society would not be economists or politicians or engineer rather 100 entrepreneurs”.

This study examined the relationship between skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in Nigeria. The primary objective was to determine how skill development and entrepreneurial activities contribute to economic growth, employment generation, and long-term sustainability. The study adopted a quantitative survey design, and data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to 333 respondents, out of which 290 were duly completed and analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression analysis, was used to test the hypotheses. Findings revealed that skill acquisition has a significant positive effect on sustainable development, implying that individuals equipped with relevant skills contribute meaningfully to economic productivity and poverty reduction. Similarly, entrepreneurship significantly fosters sustainable development through job creation, innovation, and economic diversification. The study further identified key challenges such as limited funding, poor infrastructure, weak government policies, and inadequate access to markets as major barriers to effective skill acquisition and entrepreneurship. Similarly, the research established that strategies such as government support, public-private partnerships, mentorship programs, and entrepreneurship education significantly enhance the impact of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship on sustainable development. Therefore the government and private sector collaborate to provide adequate infrastructure, financial support, and policy frameworks to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems. The study concludes that skill acquisition and entrepreneurship are critical drivers of sustainable development in Nigeria

This study is on "Engaging Youth in Agripreneurship: Strategies for Fostering Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship among Youths in Edo State,". It investigates the challenges limiting youth participation in agribusiness and identifies strategies that can enhance their involvement in the sector. The research was guided by four research questions and four purposes of study. The study employs a descriptive survey research design, With a population of 150,203 youth involved in agripreneurship in Edo State, a sample of 150 respondents was selected using simple random sampling due to the large population size. The research instrument was a structured questionnaire, validated by my supervisor and two lecturers from the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, University of
Benin.the instrument was tested for reliability using pearson correlation coefficient yielding a coefficient of 0.68. The analysis was conducted using mean and standard deviation, with a threshold of 2.5 for acceptance of responses. The Findings revealed that digital agriculture platforms, cooperative farming models,agribusiness incubators and hubs, and government-subsidized youth agribusiness loans would significantly support young agripreneurs in Edo State. However, challenges such as limited access to land, unfavorable government policies, inadequate agricultural training, lack of mentorship, and negative perceptions of agriculture continue to hinder youth participation

This study investigated the influence of the student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) on the acquisition of entrepreneurial and employability skills among business education students in Edo State. Specifically, the study examined how SIWES contributes to entrepreneurial skills, the extent to which it influences employability, the challenges students face during their placements, and the alignment of industrial training with the business education curriculum. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and the population of the study comprised all Business Education students in selected universities in Edo State, from which a sample of 39 respondents were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire based on a four-point rating scale was the main instrument for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha, which yielded a coefficient of 0.82, indicating that the instrument was reliable. The data collected were analyzed using mean (x) and standard deviation (SD). The findings generally showed that SIWES significantly contributes to the acquisition of entrepreneurial and employability skills, though students face challenges such as inadequate placement opportunities, poor supervision, and mismatch between tasks and curriculum content. The study concluded that SIWES plays a vital role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and workplace practice. It was recommended that government, universities, and industries strengthen collaboration to improve placement quality, supervision, and alignment with the curriculum to maximize the benefits of SIWES for Business Education students to a high extent. It was concluded that SIWES influence the acquisition of entrepreneurial and employability skills among business education students in Edo State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that a more robust monitoring and evaluation framework should be implemented by SIWES supervisors to ensure students are actively engaged and properly supervised throughout their attachment, moving beyond mere observation to active participation

This research explores the entrepreneurial competencies necessary for Small Business Education students to successfully establish and manage small-scale enterprises in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The study is driven by the recognition that entrepreneurship plays a vital role in economic growth, job creation, and innovation, yet many graduates continue to face challenges in translating theoretical knowledge into practical business success. Employing a descriptive survey design, data was collected from 50 students using a validated questionnaire to assess their awareness and possession of core entrepreneurial skills, including opportunity recognition, business planning, financial literacy, marketing competence, problem-solving ability, and resilience. The findings reveal that students generally recognize these competencies as essential; however, their current levels of practical application and mastery are only moderate, highlighting a significant gap between knowledge and real-world entrepreneurial readiness. The study also identifies critical challenges hindering students’ acquisition and application of entrepreneurial competencies. Students face substantial obstacles such as limited access to practical exposure, inadequate access to financial and technological resources, and insufficient emphasis on experiential learning within the existing entrepreneurship curriculum. These issues contribute to learners’ moderate competency levels and their inability to confidently initiate and sustain small-scale businesses. The research emphasizes that current entrepreneurship education predominantly focuses on theoretical instruction, which is insufficient for fostering the practical skills required in the dynamic and resource-constrained local business environment. Consequently, students are often ill-prepared to navigate market complexities, leading to low venture success rates and issues such as waste of resources and increased unemployment