1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Nigeria is acutely aware of the need to give its workforce access to vocational and technical education so they may acquire marketable skills, just like any other developing nation. Modern societies are complicated, thus people need to be educated in a way that will provide them the information they need to be highly functioning. Nigeria's National Policy on Education (2004) emphasised the country's aim to attain its objectives through education, emphasising the need for individuals to acquire suitable mental and physical skills, abilities, and competence as tools for their daily survival and to make a positive contribution to the growth of society. Since business education is virtually exclusively focused on economics, it has a big impact on achieving the transformation objective.
The first component of business education, basic business, promotes economic literacy, which benefits everyone's general education. When integrated with a country's enterprise system, the vast body of knowledge known as basic business education helps people become more aware of and capable of participating in their community as workers, consumers, and citizens by defining and making clear the roles that businesses play as economic institutions (Osuala, 2009). Nigeria's service delivery model and its goal of economic change depend on having a solid business education. Even so, entrepreneurial education can help the country's economy and reduce the poverty rate (Olorunmolu & Olufunwa, 2008).
Business education, according to Etonyeaku (2009), is a powerful force that will provide people the right information, skills, and talents to enable them to be independent contractors and self-sufficient, which will promote sustained economic growth.
According to Etonyeaku (2009), business education is a subset of vocational and technical education that encompasses educational processes involving the study of techniques, related sciences, the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, and knowledge related to occupation in industry and society's vocational sectors. Olufunwa (2009) defines entrepreneurship education as a specialised training programme designed to help students in vocational and technical education gain the concepts, skills, and managerial qualities necessary for self-employment as opposed to being engaged for compensation. Likewise, Olurunmolu & Olufunwa in Ezemoyih, (2011) contended that entrepreneurship education is the kind of learning that entails gaining the concepts, abilities, and management skills required for self-sufficiency and has the potential to improve the nation's economic situation and lower the rate of poverty.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Business Education Students' Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition and the Attainment of Sustainable Development.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that the development of entrepreneurial skills is essential for increasing the quantity, quality, and variety of job possibilities available to the poor and has shown to be a potent engine of economic growth and wealth creation for many emerging nations. It stimulates investment in people, which is a stronger source of competitive advantage than other natural resources, which can be exhausted, and has several multiplier impacts on the economy. Students studying business education will be able to start new businesses, engage in new commercial endeavours, and develop new economic sectors if they learn entrepreneurial abilities. They create jobs for themselves and others, produce products and services for society, introduce new technologies, enhance or reduce the cost of outputs, and earn foreign cash by increasing exports or decreasing imports.
Due to the growing correlation between development and entrepreneurship, (Abdullahi, 2008) states that in order for nations to accelerate their economic growth and development, they must first establish a critical mass of first generation entrepreneurs. As a means of preserving a sound economy and environment, it also serves to raise the standard of living for individuals and families. This might lead to an increase in the economy and the development of private companies.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Business Education Students' Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition and the Attainment of Sustainable Development in Port Harcourt. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the role of entrepreneurship skill acquisition in sustainable development of Port Harcourt;
- To identify the factor limiting the development of entrepreneurial skills in business education; and
- To examine the entrepreneurship skills required by business education students in attaining a sustainable development.
1.4 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the entrepreneurial skills required by business education students in attaining a sustainable development?
- What are the factors limiting the development of entrepreneurial skills in business education?
- What are the roles of entrepreneurship skills acquisition in sustainable development of Port Harcourt?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Entrepreneurial skill acquisition plays no significant role in the sustainable development of Port Harcourt.
- H1: Entrepreneurial skill acquisition plays significant role in the sustainable development of Port Harcourt.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Skills-based courses in business education help students develop their entrepreneurial abilities. Rather, the core of entrepreneurship is the creative recognition and use of business opportunities. This article demonstrates how entrepreneurship education may support entrepreneurship in Nigeria by teaching students how to identify lucrative business opportunities, market their goods successfully, manage their money, steer clear of company failure, and find potential funding.
According to this research, business education has to be given significant consideration and vigorously supported if Nigeria is to stimulate self-employment through entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, help current entrepreneurs flourish, and eventually aid their endeavours in becoming profitable ventures. The intention to promote entrepreneurship can turn out to be an illusion otherwise.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This scope of this research is focused on the business education students' entrepreneurship skill acquisition and the attainment of sustainable development.
1.7 Limitations of Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint:
The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint:
Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents:
A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Business Education:
It is an aspect of Vocational and Technical Education, a specialized programme of instruction designed to provide individuals with knowledge, skills and attitudes leading to employability and advancement in office occupations as well as teaching business subjects
Entrepreneurship:
The capacity and willingness to develop organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit.
Skill Acquisition:
It is the ability to be trained on a particular task or function and become expert in it.
Sustainable Development:
It is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
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