Higher Education In Nigeria As Correlates Of Youth Preparation For Small Scale Business

1.6 Significance of the Study

• This study is significant for providing relevant information on the need to improve on higher education towards proper preparation of undergraduates for the world of work.

• It will also be a sensitization document to undergraduates and anybody who accesses it on the paramount importance of going for small scale business skills development education programmes to acquire relevant skills that will enable one survive in a depressed economy.

• The results of the study are also meant to create a high level of awareness among prospective graduates on the relevance of small scale business education.

• The study is also significant for articulating the need for education planners and Nigerian tertiary institutions’ authorities (private and public) to direct effort at inculcating courses for small scale business development skills into tertiary institutions’ curricula and programmes.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study focused on examining higher education in Nigeria as correlates of youth preparation for small scale business. It was limited to determining the extent to which Nigerian higher education programmes have influenced the development of the intellectual, affective and psychomotor skills of youths for small scale business. The study was limited to institutions of higher learning in Lagos State. Besides, only two hundred students sampled from these institutions were involved in the study.

1.8 Definition of Terms

The terms below were operationally defined relative to their usage in the study.

Entrepreneur: This is a motivated person who seeks profits by undertaking such risky activities as starting new businesses, creating new products, or inventing new ways of accomplishing tasks.

Small scale business: This is the creative ability or skills of individuals to seek profits by taking risks and combining resources to produce innovative products.

University Education: This is the education given after secondary education in universities, including those institutions in the universities offering graduate and post graduate correspondence courses.