THE PERCEPTION OF UNDERGRADUATES OF THE RELEVANCE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY, AGO-IWOYE, OGUN STATE, NIGERIAÂ (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â Â Â Â Â Â Background of the Study
In Nigeria today, the increasing rate of poverty, unemployment, Corruption and many other Social problems had become worrisome to the government and to every well meaning citizens. The incidence of poverty in Nigeria is on the high side about 70% of the total population has been classified as poor (Nigeria entrepreneurship initiative, Ewhrudjakpor, 2008). The problem of unemployment is particularly pathetic as the number of those coming out from various institutions looking for employment opportunity continues to increase day by day.
The situation in Nigeria is of such concern that hundreds of unemployed University graduates mounted a demonstration in front of the Presidential offices to express their concern. They demanded that government should provide them with jobs to cater for their essential needs of life (Dabalen, Oni and Adekola 2000).
The pace of development recorded in such nation like Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil and India, among others, have clearly shown that development is driven by the innovativeness, creativity and enterprise of the people. Unfortunately, Nigeria has not been able to enact similar feats owing to poor linkage between knowledge and development, and between the private and public sector of the economy. This may have been due to lack of appropriate skills and sufficient entrepreneurial culture in the educational system.
Education can simply be a tool for securing employment and emancipation of people through the provision of acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to make life more flourishing. One practical strategy towards reducing the rate of unemployment and eradicating poverty is by scaling up investments in infrastructure and human capital. Human capital development facilitates through a well structured academic curriculum that is entrepreneurial focused. A nation with increased numbers of self sustained and self dependent graduates will record less numbers of unemployed graduates.
Entrepreneurship development through education has been receiving attention globally, while several attempts have been made through researchers, 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, Solomon and Weaver, 2008; Vincent and Farlow, 2008).
In this regard, effort has to be intensified 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 become pandemic (MDGs report, 2007).
This review therefore examine the significance of entrepreneurial skills in vocational and technical education for developing a strong virile economy.
