REPOSITIONING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN NIGERIA FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE IN THE ERA OF INSECURITY TOWARDS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Insecurity in Nigeria in recent times has aggravated the already bad economic situation in Nigeria. Unemployment rates are skyrocketing daily, causing more economic and security challenges. This worrisome situation calls for genuine efforts from all areas of human endeavor to tame the tide. This paper looked at repositioning entrepreneurship education, which is considered as an area that could help in addressing the economic and internal security challenges in the country, through youth empowerment, for national development. The key concepts of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, and youth and youth empowerment were discussed. The paper observed that, although entrepreneurship education is capable of helping to promote youth empowerment and self-reliance, and in effect help to address the internal security challenges, the manner in which it is handled and operated in Nigeria presently appears to be weak and so incapable of adequately addressing this issue, hence the need for repositioning. Furthermore, the requirements for repositioning entrepreneurship education to effectively and efficiently perform its role towards empowering the youth and improving internal security for national development were highlighted. The paper concluded that functional entrepreneurship education is necessary for peace, stability, and national development. It recommended, among other things, that adequate funding of entrepreneurship education, and proper management of entrepreneurship education programmes should be ensured in educational institutions.