ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AS A TOOL FOR WEALTH CREATION

ABSTRACT

This study aims at looking into entrepreneurship development as a tool for wealth creation, which will serve as a panacea to some social economic problems. Survey research design was used for the study. The population is made up of entire final year students of Distance Learning Institute (DLI). The questionnaires were issued to one hundred and ten (110) respondents which formed the sample used.  The sample was drawn using simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using frequency tables and percentage method while formulated hypotheses were tested using Chi-square (χ2) based on 0.05 probability level of significance.

It was revealed that the performance level of the Distance Learning Institute, Business Administration final year students in entrepreneurship development is drastically low resulting from lack of infrastructure and other deficiencies in providing the necessary impetus for development. It also finds out that same problems keep escalating despite various efforts by the government to review policies and programmes in the past. The uniqueness of this study is providing entrepreneurship development framework as an explanation of what and how it should be rather than what it is. It also challenges policy makers on the need to refocus their policies in problem solving rather than maintaining the status quo.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Entrepreneurship development by way of education has been receiving attention globally. Several attempt have been made through researches, mounting of entrepreneurship courses, programmes in both institutions of learning and entrepreneurship research centers for the purpose of developing both entrepreneurship spirit and culture (Akpomi 2009; Adejimola and Olufunmilayo 2009; Dickson 2008).

As expressed by Kalirajan and Singh (2009) and MDG Report (2007), entrepreneurship drive entails intensified effort to mobilize and enhance entrepreneurial activity which will consequently benefit individuals, government, and the society at large. The issue of poverty eradication has been a top priority of many government and institutions especially in developing countries where extreme poverty is conspicuous and became pandemic.