Issues and Challenges in the Development of Entrepreneurship Education in Nigeria

Entrepreneurship education has emphasis on economics and covers business disciplines like management, marketing and finance with links to psychology, sociology, and teacher education as well as business education. It prepares and builds persons to be responsible and enterprising individuals capable of deep entrepreneurial thinking that contribute to economic and sustainable development. It focuses on expertise that is needed and used to conceive and commercialise business opportunities. Nigeria especially in the face of the global economic crisis and its energy crisis requires graduates who will be job “creators” and not job “seekers”. This paper addresses issues and challenges in the development of entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. These include major issues like the need for a policy framework for youth entrepreneurship. It also identified the challenges to its development which include funding, manpower and education, and entrepreneurial attitude. The paper finally made recommendations that will enhance a full blown entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Introduction Functional education according to Ocho (2005) is the process through which individuals are made participating members of their society. It enables them to become capable of living in the society and to contribute towards its economic development. This shows that a functional education system takes