THE ROLE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

Abstract

The study examined the role of tertiary institutions in promoting entrepreneurship education in Nigeria: A case study of the University of Benin. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of tertiary institutions in promoting entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. This study employed the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of all the 300 level undergraduate students of the University of Benin who currently registered for entrepreneurial course (CED300) in the 2020/2021 academic session. The estimated population is 2,554 students; one hundred and sixty-five (165) students were selected using purposive sampling technique in view of their homogeneity. The major instrument used for this study was the questionnaire; it was validated by three lecturers in the Department of Adult and Non–Formal Education, University of Benin. The test retest method of estimating reliability was used to ascertain the reliability coefficient of the instrument. An index of 0.86 was thereafter obtained. Data were analyzed using mean scores and percentage statistics. Findings of the study revealed that the university has not done much in assisting the students to secure grants from government and loan from financial institutions in order to start or fund their own businesses after graduation. It is therefore recommended that grants/loans should be provided for the students without collateral in order to make the training realizable and achievable.