CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN INTEGRATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Entrepreneurial creativity and innovation are key elements required for sustainability at all levels of development. These skills can be acquired either formally or informally; however, Entrepreneurship Education plays a critical role in successful enterprise creation. Enterprises established without adequate entrepreneurship education are more likely to fail due to poor preparation for business-related challenges, particularly in start-up phases. This paper examines the effect of entrepreneurship education on youth development in Nigeria. The study is anchored on the Human Capital Theory as advocated by Robert (1991). Secondary data sources were primarily utilized for data collection. The objectives of the study were to investigate the challenges militating against the success of entrepreneurship education in Nigeria and to examine how entrepreneurship education can contribute to nation building. The study concludes that through well-planned and effectively implemented entrepreneurship education, Nigerian youths can become more productive, fulfilled, and committed—either as employees or as employers of labour. This would enable them to utilize their unique capabilities toward achieving national and global development goals rather than seeking opportunities abroad. The paper recommends that entrepreneurship education should be fully integrated into ongoing career preparation programs in secondary schools, colleges of education, polytechnics, and universities. It is imperative that the nation’s workforce acquires entrepreneurial skills and attitudes before entering the labour market to compete effectively and efficiently in today’s dynamic marketplace.