ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN BAYELSA STATE

Abstract

The Federal Ministry of Education mandated the inclusion of entrepreneurship education in the curricula of tertiary institutions in Nigeria through regulatory bodies like the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) starting from the 2007/2008 academic session. This decision was made in response to the need for graduates to be equipped with entrepreneurial skills to enhance their employment opportunities and contribute to economic development. It is believed that for a student to fully benefit from entrepreneurship education, they must develop proficiency in these key competencies to successfully navigate the challenges of starting and running a business. Additionally, fostering these competencies can also lead to increased self-confidence, creativity, and adaptability in the face of uncertainty in the business world. The lack of sustainable employment pathways raises questions about the effectiveness of the current educational system in preparing students for the demands of the labour market and addressing the region's economic challenges. It is n this light that this project is set. This study therefore is designed to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship education and graduate employment generation in tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State. To achieve this, the study investigated randomly selected students from the state tertiary institutions. Using structured questionnaire from the respondents, the study discovered that there is a strong and positive relationship that exist between graduate employment and acquisition of entrepreneurial skills in Bayelsa state. Hence, among others, the study suggested that Business education programs in tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State should place a greater emphasis on developing risk management competency among students to better prepare them for the job market. Also, the management of tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State should collaborate with industry partners to help students develop financial literacy competency to enhance their chances of creating employment opportunities after graduation