ABSTRACT
This study aimed at the role of Business Education in the development of entrepreneurship in Akwa Ibom State, using selected small and medium scale enterprises in Akwa Ibom State as a case study. To accomplish the research objectives, the study adopted was a descriptive research design while the convenience sampling technique was used to select fifty (50) respondents as sample size for the study. Instrument of the study was a self-developed questionnaire and the forms were personally administered. Data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics involving the use of sample percentages. It was revealed that business education provides the young graduates with enough training and support that will enable them to establish a career in small and medium scale business, it enable the entrepreneurs to understand the business environment, it increases the analytical skill of the entrepreneurs, it increases the confidence and dependency of the entrepreneurship. The benefits of entrepreneurship development through business education include, improving academic performance of the students, reduction in the rate of unemployment, reduction in poverty, reduction in crime rate. The challenges of business education in the development of entrepreneurship include, inadequate equipment and technology, poor infrastructural facilities, lack of suitable training and leadership development, widespread corruption and harassment of small and medium enterprises by some government agencies over unauthorized levies and charges. While measures of reducing the challenges of business education in the development of entrepreneurship include, availability of infrastructural facilities, provision of enough incentive for students offering business education courses, provision of school-based enterprises. To promote business education in Akwa Ibom State, it was recommended that government should establish developing specific skills required for entrepreneurship development, there should be school-based enterprises where students indentify potential business plan, create and operate small business by using the school as mini-incubators, there should be enough incentives for students offering business educational courses this will motivate them to establish their own business after school.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – – i
Approval Page – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – v-vi
Abstract – – – – – – – – – vii
List of Tables – – – – – – – – viii
Table of Contents – – – – – – – ix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study – – – – – 1-2
- Statement of Problem – – – – – – 2-3
- Objectives of the Study – – – – – 3-4
- Research Questions – – – – – – 4
- Scope of the Study – – – – – – 5
- Significance of the Study – – – – – 5
- Limitations of the Study – – – – – 6
- Organization of the Study – – – – – 6
- Definition of Terms – – – – – – 7
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Meaning of Business Education – – – – 9-10
2.2 Meaning of Entrepreneur/Entrepreneurship – – 10-13
2.3 Entrepreneurial Development – – – – 13-14
2.4 The Importance of Entrepreneurial Development – 14-15
2.5 The Benefits of Entrepreneurship Development through
Business Education – – – – – – 15-18
2.6 The Roles of Business Education in the Development
Of Entrepreneurship in Akwa Ibom State – – 18-19
2.7 The Challenges of Business Education in the Development
of Entrepreneurship – – – – – – 19-21
2.8 Measures of Reducing the Challenges of Business
Education in the Development of Entrepreneurship – 21-22
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design – – – – – – – 23
3.2 Population of the Study – – – – – 24
3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques – – – – 24
3.4 Instrumentation – – – – – – – 25
3.5 Method/Plan for Data Analysis – – – – 25
3.6 Problems of Data Collection – – – – – 25
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Analysis of Research Questions – – – – 27
4.1.1 Research Question One – – – – – 27-29
4.1.2 Research Question Two – – – – – 29-31
4.1.3 Research Question Three – – – – – 31-33
4.1.4 Research Question Four – – – – – 33-35
4.2 Discussion of Findings – – – – – – 35-37
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings – – – – – – 38-40
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 40
5.5 Recommendations – – – – – – 41
References
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Education remains a pivot upon which the wheels of the society revolve. Farrant (1964) defined education as the process of learning to live as a useful and acceptable member of the society. From this definition, it is obvious that the essence of education is functionality. So since the desire of every society is to achieve a sustainable level of economic development, this could be possible through embarking on entrepreneurial activities by the citizens of the society. This is because the public sector cannot single handedly drive in the desired level of development. Furthermore, the success of a society in entrepreneurship depends on skills and knowledge acquired by the entrepreneur. Education also equips a person with relevant skills which would lead him to better performance in his chosen career.