Entrepreneurial skills acquisition and utilization among home economics education graduates of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
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Date
2017
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kampala International University.College Of Open and Distance Learning
Abstract
In today's entrepreneurial age and with the increase in the number of
graduates searching for work in the labour market, the need for
entrepreneurship education and training in colleges and universities is
increasing rapidly. Drawing upon Vrooms Expectancy Theory and
Schumpeter Innovation Theory of Entrepreneurship, this study examined
entrepreneurial skills acquisition and utilization among home economics
education graduates of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria Nigeria, where the
following objectives were investigated; a) relationship between acquisition
and utilization of innovation skills b) relationship between acquisition and
utilization of creativity skills c) relationship between acquisition and
utilization of foresight skills. The study employed mixed method research
designs; both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Using a
purposive sampling, 234 home economics graduates were selected and 37
staff of Ahmadu Bello University and 37 local government Administrators
were randomly selected in the study. The data were analyzed using
frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Regression was used
to test the effects of all the variables while Pearson's Linear Correlation
Coefficient was used to test the relationship at 0.01 level of significance.
The findings showed that correlation between innovation skills and
utilization was highly significant. (r= .700, Sig = 0.000 < 0.01 level of
significant).Similar findings regarding the relationship between creativity
skills and utilization was highly significant. (r= .700, Sig = 0.000 < 0.01
level of significant). In the same vein, there is a high correlation between
foresight skills and utilization. (r=.726, Sig= 0.000 < 0.01 level of
significant). Based on the findings the following were the conclusions: that
innovations, creativity and foresight were all significant but foresight
emerged as the major predictor of skills utilization. It is recommended that
there must be resource allocation by the university management for the
mentoring of graduates after school. There must be a realistic target which
will serve as a guide for home economics graduates to have focus on what
is expected of them. Home economics graduates should attend and
participate in workshops and conferences to acquire more skills in
innovation, creativity and foresight. And the government should provide
grants or loans to graduates to utilize the skills acquired in the university.
Description
Keywords
Educational Management, entrepreneurial Age, Nigeria, Economica Education