Entrepreneurship Education and Unemployment Reduction Among Graduates
Entrepreneurship Education and Unemployment Reduction Among Graduates

Summary/Abstract: Nigeria faces a paradox of high graduate unemployment despite being Africa's largest economy, with over 5.2 million unemployed graduates and 2 million new graduates entering a saturated labor market annually. This study examined the relationship between entrepreneurship education and unemployment reduction among Nigerian graduates, specifically investigating how entrepreneurship skill acquisition relates to job creation and business productivity. Using a descriptive research design, the study surveyed 342 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Osun State, selected through simple random sampling from a target population of 2,353. Data was collected using structured questionnaires measured on a four-point Likert scale and analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. The results revealed significant positive relationships between entrepreneurship skill acquisition and job creation (r = 0.642, p < 0.01) and between entrepreneurial skills development and business productivity (r = 0.711, p < 0.01). Both null hypotheses were rejected, indicating that entrepreneurship skill acquisition and development significantly enhances graduates' job creation capacity and business establishment productivity. The study concludes that entrepreneurship skill acquisition and development is not merely an educational exercise but a practical intervention that yields measurable economic outcomes. The study recommends integrating practical entrepreneurship skills training into higher education curricula, establishing business incubation centers, developing comprehensive national entrepreneurship policies, and creating dedicated funding mechanisms for graduate entrepreneurs.

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