Applying ‘Project-Method’ (Pm) For Effective Teaching of Entrepreneurship Education in 21st Century Nigerian Universities (Published)
Entrepreneurship relates to real life jobs, occupations and career skills and hence it is society-specific. However, observation reveals that course content of ‘Entrepreneurship studies’ in many Nigerian universities are theoretically expressed and taught by note dictation, abstract descriptions, unrealistic examples, etc, 100%; dexterity (moving, arranging or operating the structure or technicalities of a job, occupation and career), zero. This paper proposes a redesign of university curriculum into project template; broken into steps, stages or units, where each step represents an aspect of the project (job, task, or skill) to be accomplished per time. Studying this way, four or five years in a row, students would have been oriented to the mechanics and dynamics of such jobs (projects) enough to form a practice. Basic requirements: project classrooms, project pedagogy, project curriculum review, teacher retraining, etc, necessary to administer this method are discussed.
Keywords: Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, learner-centered., project-method
Attitude of Educated Women in Nasarawa State towards Entrepreneurship Education as Sine Qua Non For Wealth Creation and Reduction of Gender Inequality (Published)
The study investigated the attitude of educated women in Nasarawa State of Nigeria towards entrepreneurship education as an inevitable strategy for wealth creation and reduction of gender inequality. Four research questions and one null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The design of the research was cross-sectional exploratory survey. The estimated population of the study was 200,000 literate women in the state public establishments. A random sample of 400 female public servants was selected for the study. A 36-item structured attitude scale was developed and validated by the researchers and used for data collection, having established its reliability index of 0.84 through Split-half method. Descriptive statistics were used to answer the four formulated research questions while the corresponding null hypotheses were tested using t-test of independent samples at the 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study shows, among other findings, that a high proportion of the educated women expressed positive attitude towards gender equality in wealth creation; there was positive attitude towards acquisition of entrepreneurship skills through vocational courses, and marital status has positive influence on their attitude towards the pursuit of entrepreneurship skills. Concluding that women have positive attitude towards any viable steps for reducing gender inequality, it was recommended that government driven support should focus on encouraging women to embark on acquisition of entrepreneurial skills to facilitate wealth creation and reduce gender inequality.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Gender Inequality, Gender Parity, Positive attitude, Wealth Creation
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) Education: A Catalyst for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth in Nigeria (Published)
Equipping learners with the 21st century skills is the current pursuit of nations of the world wishing to maintain global leadership and cutting-edge economic competitiveness. These nations now see Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education as an option for equipping their up-coming generations with problem solving skills and potentials for becoming innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. This paper explains the concept of Nigerian economic recession and its remote causes. It also explains the STEM education as a meta-discipline which is taught as an integrated subject abroad but is yet to take root in Nigeria. The author presents STEM education as the foundation for innovation, entrepreneurship and work place skill required to boost the economy of Nigeria so as to diversify her economy from oil dependence and combat youth unemployment. It concludes with suggestions of what Nigeria ought to do at this time to reposition STEM education to achieve economic recovery.
Keywords: Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Mathematics Education, Science, Technology, economic growth
Considering Primal Teacher Leadership through Quadrant Intelligent (Qi) Model for Teacher Education Content Validity in Ghana (Published)
Using the convenient sampling technique, 250 teachers from the GES (N=218) were used to assess Qi levels. The findings showed significant differences in Ideal Qi and Actual Qi scores, but showed no significant variations among groups [F(1, 218)=1.517, p=.219]. The significant difference was found among the intercept of gender and teaching experiences [F(1, 75)= .596, p= .957)] therefore the alternative hypothesis rejected. Recommendations include the adoption of Qi model by the GES/ Teacher Education Division in Pre-service and In-service training of teachers. Teacher performance assessment should include the assessment of Qi levels and should lead to certification and partly based on evidence of such C21st multiple intelligence. Again, Qi model should be given serious consideration in policy decisions and scholarship. The study contributes to a new paradigm in skills set for teacher education and professional development. These skills set includes but not limited to social, emotional, strategic, and entrepreneurial intelligences.
Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Primal Teacher Leadership (PTL), Quadrant Intelligence (QI) Model, Social Intelligence, Strategic Thinking
Business Education Students’s Perception Of The Skill Needs For Successful Entrepreneurship In Nigeria (Published)
The paper examined the Business education students’ perception of skill needs for successful entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The population consisted of 6002 business education students. 600 respondents were selected through stratified sampling technique. The study adopted survey design. A four point response item structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Out of the 600 copies distributed, 589 were collected and used for the study. The instrument was face- validated by three experts in the Departments of Business Education and science education of Ebonyi State University. An internal consistency of 0.98 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha correlation coefficient. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t –test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that business education students need technical and financial management skills to function well in this time of economic meltdown in Nigeria. It was concluded that there was need to put in place learning facilities that will help the business education students to acquire the skills. It was recommended that the institutions training Business Education students for entrepreneurship should have well equipped entrepreneurial development centre.
Keywords: Business Education, Entrepreneurship, Perception, Skill