Dec – 2023
- 1Onabe, B. Deborah Ph.D, 2Chima, C. Michael, 3Uzoigwe, Catherine, Chinwendu, 4Ben C. C. Osuagwu, 5Uzoigwe, Michael Chukwudi Ph.D
- 1&5Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Educational Foundation Studies, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. 2Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 4Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 3Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
- GAS Journal of Arts Humanities & Social Sciences (GASJAHSS)
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Abstract: This study evaluated undergraduates’ entrepreneurial
skills acquisition in public universities in Ebonyi State of Nigeria.
Descriptive survey design was adopted in conducting the study. A sample of
600 respondents (10 percent of the population) was selected from a population
of 6,010 made up of university administrators, administrative personnel,
academic staff and students involved in entrepreneurial service
implementation both in Alex Ekwueme Federal University and Ebonyi State
University. The sample was divided into different strata based on factors
such as academic discipline, year of study and host institution. From each
stratum, a random sample of respondents was selected to ensure representation
across different programs and academic levels. Meanwhile, a 40-item validated
instrument titled: Evaluation of Undergraduates’ Entrepreneurial Skills
Acquisition Survey (EUESAS) was employed for data collection. The instrument
was tested for reliability using Cronbach Alpha with a reliability index of
.91. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation in order
to answer the research questions. The results indicated that the level of
entrepreneurial skills acquired by undergraduates in public universities in
Ebonyi State is generally “Very Low”(X<2.0); the entrepreneurship
training facilities and programs offered in developing skills of
undergraduates in the studied universities were generally inadequate
(X>2.0<3.0); the study also reveals that both academic and
environmental factors contribute to ineffective entrepreneurial skills
acquisition among undergraduates in the state (X>4.0). Above all, the
strategies were strongly agreed upon to enhance undergraduates’ acquisition
of entrepreneurial abilities in public universities (X>4.0<5.0). It was
however concluded that the study revealed a very low level of entrepreneurial
skills acquisition among undergraduates in public universities in Ebonyi
State, Nigeria, due to inadequate entrepreneurship training facilities and
programs, as well as academic and environmental factors. It is therefore
recommended that there is an urgent need for universities to improve the
quality of entrepreneurship education and provide adequate support systems to
enable undergraduates to acquire necessary entrepreneurial skills for self-employment
and wealth creation. |
Keywords: Evaluation, Entrepreneurship, Education,
Students, University, Skills
