ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCIES NEEDED BY AUTOMOBILE CRAFTSMEN IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

This study focuses on entrepreneurship competencies needed by automobile craftsmen in Niger State. Three research questions were formulated to guide the conduct of the study. A descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. The study was carried out in Niger State. A total of 51 respondents comprising forty-three entrepreneur automobile craftsmen and eight automobile industry workers were used as population for the study while sample of the study consist of thirty-seven entrepreneur automobile craftsmen using simple random sampling technique and all eight automobile industry workers since the automobile industry workers are not many. A structured questionnaire developed by the researcher was used for the data collected for study. The instrument was face and content validated by three lecturers in Industrial and Technology Education. Mean, standard deviation and t-test were the statistical instruments used to analyze the data for answering research questions and the hypotheses respectively. The findings of the study revealed among others that the ways and manners automobile entrepreneurial competency adopted needs to be upgraded, automobile craftsmen should take in the technical competencies skills effective operation, lack of managerial skills for self-employment and lack of effective communication skills required. Based on the findings it was recommended that the Auto-workshop manager should provide appropriate new modern tools, machine and equipment for effective and efficient training and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) should carry out a review on automobile technology curriculum for Technical Colleges with a view to incorporating entrepreneurial skills and competencies into teaching of automobile technology.