ENREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES FOR A PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

This paper examines the importance of entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities for a productive society in the 21^st century. Entrepreneurship education is education that allows for the development of skillsets, both internal and external, to produce a positive outcome in terms of productivity, innovation and economic stability. It is education that boosts the entrepreneurial spirit of the working class thereby promoting a sustainable economy. Nigeria as we know it today has maintained the status of a developing country, struggling to meet the basic demands of her citizens.  For Nigeria to compete with other nations of the world, her university educational system needs to be furnished with a curriculum that is geared towards economic development, inculcating entrepreneurial skillsets in their graduates who will one day become drivers of the economy. Thus, entrepreneurship education is a necessity in Nigerian universities to bring about productivity in the 21st century Nigerian society. The paper discussed some deterrents to entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities to include lack of funding, inadequate teaching facilities, inadequate curriculum, amongst others. This paper concluded by stating that entrepreneurship education should be at the fore-front of university education in Nigeria and taking priority over all other courses in the university curriculum as it would necessitate the production of a sustainable society and a sustainable economy in 21^st century Nigeria. The problems highlighted in this paper were proffered with some possible solutions which include provision of adequate funds, adoption of an all-inclusive and innovative curriculum, provision of adequate teaching facilities, amongst others.