ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Using entrepreneurial education as the vehicle for sustainable development in Nigeria is the focus of this paper. This objective has been pursued theoretically by reviewing the different government policies on education and the place of entrepreneurship development in such policies. It is not a debate that economic development and sustainability are hinged on creativity and innovation, which are the defining features of entrepreneurial education. It also follows that if entrepreneurial education must be used to define the country’s developmental efforts towards a sustainable future, the focus must be on school age youths, to whom the future belongs. This paper argues that, though certain policies on education like that for polytechnics emphasise vocational and technical education and skills, there remains a dire need for real orientation of concerned institutions towards building entrepreneurial mind-set in the youths. Certain theories on entrepreneurial education and development are considered, while often-encountered challenges of entrepreneurial education and their way out are highlighted. On the basis of this and other ancillary discourses, policy implication and recommendations are raised for consideration. These include, among others, a call on all relevant authorities to make fresh commitment towards entrepreneurial development by refocusing the education policy towards entrepreneurially eliciting programmes.