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 youths 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 as Tobit regression model. The result of the analysis revealed that majority of the respondents were between the age ranges of 21-30 years with means ages of 29 years, 80% were males, 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 ranges between N10,000 – N30,000 monthly. The study later revealed that a majority (89.0%) of the respondents had acquired tailoring as an entrepreneurship skills which ranked 1st among entrepreneurship skill development, this was followed by baking (79.2%) and barbing (64.2%) skills ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively. Reasons for acquiring entrepreneurship building was for capacity building (87.5%) followed by self development (74.2%). The Tobit regression analysis 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 policies ( = 3.23), problem of corruption (= 2.78), lack of investment capital ( =2.97) and inadequate infrastructure ( =2.59). It could be concluded the Tailoring was the dominant entrepreneurship skills acquired by rural youths in the study area. It was 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.