Entrepreneurship Education And Self-Efficacy: Strategies For Reducing Unemployment Problem Among Nigerian Graduates

Abstract

This paper considered entrepreneurship education and self-efficacy as strategies for reducing unemployment problems among Nigerian graduates. Based on a survey of 180 Unemployed graduates seeking employment through Integrated Corporate Services Limited (ICSL) and Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited (VLA) recruiting firms, this paper analyzes graduates’ unemployment level and its influencing factors (i.e. Entrepreneurship education and Self-efficacy). Two hypotheses were raised and regression was used to analyse the data collected. The research result shows that entrepreneurship education and self-efficacy are important factors in determining the intention to entrepreneurship therefore reducing the level of unemployment in Nigeria. There is an urgent need for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to comply with the presidential directives to the effect that entrepreneurship education be made compulsory for all students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, irrespective of their areas of specialization. The findings also indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship among entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy and unemployment problem. It was found that the acquisition of skills, ideas and abilities management necessary for job creation involve strong entrepreneurship education and self-efficacy which can promotes employment rather than seeking for an employment. It was recommended among others that the scope of the entrepreneurship education should be extended to include technical, managerial and business skills.