CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The peril of unemployment in Nigeria in the past and at present has been an issue of great interest to the economic managers, individuals, government at all levels and policy makers (Nwankwo, 2013). Unemployment according to Lamido (2013) as cited in Bogoro (2015) is one of the full scale financial issues that each dependable government is relied upon to screen and manage as it arises as a result of absence of policy on social welfare, improper orientation of the youths and societal attitude towards vocational and technical education.

Fajana (2000) defined unemployment as a situation where people who are able and willing to work are unable to find suitable paid employment. International Labour Organization (ILO) (2015) defined the unemployed as the number of the economically active population that is without work but is available and searching for work, including those that have lost their jobs and those that have voluntarily left work.

Olagunju (2004) viewed entrepreneurial skill as the dexterity of an individual to exploit an idea and create an enterprise that is not only for personal gain but also for social and developmental gain. Salgado-banda (2005) in his research asserted that entrepreneurial skill is the ability to have passion, empathy, boldness, tenacity, self-belief, readiness to take expert advice, desire for immediate result and ability to recognize opportunities.

Ubulom (2003) defined entrepreneurial skills as vocational business skills, which an individual acquires to enable him function effectively in the tumultuous business environment, as an entrepreneur of a self-employed or a self-reliant.

One of the possible causes for this lack is that the education in Nigeria addresses only output end of capacity development solving problem. In addressing the input and therefore, a complimentary approach is needed. In developed economies or industrialized economies for instance, the education system emphasizes the trail of inquiry-discovery application in teaching and students to perceive problems (including societal problems) as challenges and opportunities that can be turned into goods and services of commercial value (Adejimola & Olufumilayo, 2009, Giwa 2000, and Adeyemi 2006).

One of the approaches to achieve the contending in Nigeria is teaching and research at entrepreneurship and innovation centres by universities and other tertiary institutions and the promotion of universities-private sector collaboration.

This should involve developing the capacity of staff and students in entrepreneurship and innovation, engaging in outreach activities with small and medium enterprises through such interventions as business incubators. Training entrepreneurs and conducting research and consultancies are inevitable as it pertains to entrepreneurial, industrial and economic growth in Nigeria.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Entrepreneurship education has received a boost as a source of job creation, empowerment for the unemployed and the underemployed in a globalized economy worldwide. For Borno state, here might be some of the challenges in entrepreneurial skill acquisition; lack of entrepreneurial teachers, equipments and materials, lack of fund, Insensitivity of government to enterprise creation and expansion strategy, Poor societal attitude to technical and vocational education development, Poor plan and execution of processes of action, Non-inclusion of entrepreneurship practical programme in the school curricula, Poor knowledge based economy and low spirit of competition and the list is endless.

Finally, several researches have been carried out on the unemployment in Nigeria: the role of entrepreneurship education but not even a single research has been carried out on the economic education student’s attitude towards the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills in reducing the rate of unemployment in Borno state.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim and objectives of the study is to examine economic education students attitude towards the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills in reducing the rate of unemployment. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the extent to which innovative skills curb unemployment in Borno state.
2. to determine the influence of risk taking in the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills.
3. to determine the factors affecting student’s attitude and its effects on the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills in Borno state.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1      What is the extent to which innovative skills curb unemployment in Borno state?

2      What is the influence of risk taking in the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills?

3      What is the factors affecting student’s attitude and its effects on the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills in Borno state?

4      What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  Student’s attitude has no significant effect on the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills.

Hi:   Student’s attitude has a significant effect on the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the economic education students attitudes towards the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills in reducing the rate of unemployment will be of immense benefit to the entire Borno state people in the sense that it will educate them to understand the fact that entrepreneurship education here is a vehicle to ride offs the endemic problem of poverty, hunger and youth empowerment. When the youths are provided with the right training in practice, they explore opportunities in their immediate environment instead of chasing shadows in the cities.

The development of Entrepreneurship education will also go a long way in creating employment; give young people the opportunity to develop their enterprising skills, empowering the young to be job creators and not job seekers through the provision of necessary skills and knowledge to raise their output, income and wealth. Entrepreneurship education would also contribute to improve the image and highlight the role of entrepreneurs in the society. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of exiting literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on the economic education student’s attitudes towards the acquisition of entrepreneurship skills in reducing the rate of unemployment is limited to Borno state.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Time Constraints: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

Financial Constraints: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Economics:     The branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.

Education:      The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.

Student:          A person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.

Attitude:         A settled way of thinking or feeling about something.

Acquisition:    The learning or developing of a skill, habit, or quality.
Entrepreneurship:          The activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.

Skill:        The ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance

Unemployment:      Individuals who are employable and actively seeking a job but are unable to find a job.