Acquisition of Entrepreneurship Skills Development by Rural Youth in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Acquisition of entrepreneurship skills development by rural youth in Chanchaga local government area of Niger State, Nigeria was examined in this study. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire administered to 120 respondents from the study area. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such Tobit regression model. The result of the analysis revealed that majority of the respondents were between the age range of 21-30 years with mean age of 29 years, 80% were male 53.3% were single and 90.8% had household size ranging from 1-5 persons with a mean of 3 persons. In terms of education, 96.7% of the respondents acquired formal education with about half (45.8%) of the respondents having an income range of N10, 000-N30, 000 monthly. The study further revealed that a majority (85.0%) of the respondents had acquired tailoring as an entrepreneurship skills which ranked 1st among other entrepreneurship skills development, this was followed by baking (79.2%) and barbing (64.2%) skills ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively. Reasons for acquiring entrepreneurship skills was for capacity building (87.5%) followed by self-development (74.2%). The Tobit regression analysis revealed that age, education, income, cooperative and access to information were significant and statistically influences acquisition of entrepreneurship skills development. The severe constraints identified by the respondents were inconsistent government policy (Mean= 3.23), problem of corruption (Mean= 2.78), lack of investment capital (Mean= 2.97) and inadequate infrastructure (Mean= 2.59). It could be concluded that Tailoring was the dominant entrepreneurship skills acquired by the rural youths in the study area. It therefore recommended that policy makers should recognize the essence of entrepreneurship to economic development by creating enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive and the spirit of entrepreneurship should be encouraged among young people.