Entrepreneurial skills acquisition and utilization among home economics education graduates of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria

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Date
2017
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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.
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Keywords
Educational Management, entrepreneurial Age, Nigeria, Economica Education
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