Implementation of Entrepreneurship Education Programme in Tertiary Educational Institutions and Graduate Employment in Nigeria: The Perspective of Cross River State

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of the implementation of Entrepreneurship Education (ENT) programme among tertiary education institutions in Nigeria on graduates employment, with particular reference to Cross River State. Entrepreneurship Education programme was made mandatory for all tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria from 2007/2008 academic session as an antidote to the scourge of graduates unemployment in the country. Four research questions which investigated the extent of programme implementation, inculcation of love for entrepreneurship, graduates self-employment and general students perception of the programme were used to carry out the study. The study population compressed 26,000 graduates projected to have graduated from the four tertiary educational institutions in Cross River State within the ten years of the programme implementation. Using ex-post facto research design, a sample of 2,600 representing 10 percent of the population was studied, using 11-item researcher-made questionnaire titled “Entrepreneurship Education and Graduates Employment Questionnaire” Data analysis was done using simple percentages. The findings reveal that ENT is widely implemented (67.78%) among tertiary educational institutions; the course is not well taught (61.94) among schools; that there were no industrial experience or visits by learners (76.79%) but that the course has introduced learners to many trades (59.27) and that some beneficiaries of the course have becomes self-employed through the inspiration drawn from it (9.93%). There is a consensus view that the course holds great potentials for graduate employment (90.90%). From the findings it was concluded that ENT has great prospects for graduates self-employment and accordingly recommended for improvement in programme implementation.