The Impact of Entrepreneurial Education on Inclusive Growth in Nigeria: 1980-2013

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to empirically investigate the impact of entrepreneurial education on inclusive growth in Nigeria. The study adopted secondary time series data and the study used econometrics tools (unit root test, causality test, co-integration analysis and error correction model analysis) to estimate the data. From the findings, entrepreneurial education has a strong and positive impact with inclusive growth in Nigeria and entrepreneurial education is a catalyst for inclusive growth through job creation, poverty reduction and wealth creation in Nigeria. From the results, there are some challenges of entrepreneurial education in Nigeria among them are the issues of inconsistent policies, funding, human resources and programmes of entrepreneurial education in Nigeria. Empirically, entrepreneurial education determinants namely (primary education, secondary education, tertiary education and educational expenditure) for inclusive growth in Nigeria have less impact on inclusive growth, especially the primary education in Nigeria has not made the desired impact on inclusive growth. This may be due to the fact that the primary education has less entrepreneurship internship programmes and lack of funds, and also the primary school pupils are not economically active in Nigeria. The paper recommends that government and its agencies should design a proper and consistent entrepreneurial education programmes at all levels of educational system in Nigeria and make funds available for these programmes. Finally, at all levels of education system, curricula should be reviewed for inclusive growth in Nigeria.