Entrepreneurial Education at the Tertiary Level in Nigeria Imperative for Poverty Reduction and Economic Development
Globally, entrepreneurship is seen not only as the anti dote to the astronomically growing socio economic problem of unemployment, but particularly as the engine of economic growth and stability and by extension, the prosperity of nations. Accordingly, concerted efforts, backed by deliberate State policies and strategies, are normally geared towards its promotion and sustenance. The starting point has been recognized to be wholistic and integrated education and enlightening programmes/projects, such as the National Consortium on Entrepreneurship Education in the USA. Nigeria has not been left out of this global attention, as the National Universities' Commission, NUC, recently directed every tertiary institution in the Country to make entrepreneurial education an integral part of its curriculum. This paper examines, among others, the necessity, scope and challenges of this all important programme at the most critical level of education. A wholistic approach has been adopted, including a survey of relevant stakeholders, notably students at the tertiary level of education in Nigeria, with thought provoking positions/findings upon which appropriate strategies and approaches have been contributed for not only the success of the programme, but most important for the much desired economic transformation revolutionized by entrepreneurial spirit.