IMPACT OF ENTREPRENURESHIP EDUCATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AS A SOLUTION TO NIGERIAN YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN ADAMAWA STATE

Abstract

This research investigated the impact of entrepreneurship education in tertiary institutions on youth unemployment in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Despite the emphasis on training through workshops and skills acquisition, the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education had not been thoroughly measured. The study focused on four local governments from three senatorial districts, collecting data from graduate student entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs, tertiary institution administrators, and parents using simple random sampling. The findings revealed a significant positive impact of entrepreneurship education on addressing youth unemployment, with a high mean score of 3.27 and an SD of 0.88. Development of entrepreneurship skills was crucial for business success (mean score 3.15, SD 0.91) and job creation (83% agreement, mean score 3.23, SD 0.87). These skills also played a role in youth empowerment (73% agreement, mean score 3.01, SD 0.95) and preparation for employment (74% agreement, mean score 3.03, SD 0.94). However, 74% of respondents indicated that the skills provided were insufficient for self-employment (mean score 3.03, SD 0.94). The study concluded that while entrepreneurship education is vital for economic empowerment and job creation, there is a need to better align the skills taught with the demands of self-employment to fully address youth unemployment.