INFORMAL TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (ITVET) AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SMEs IN ANAMBRA STATE

Entrepreneurial development remains a vital strategy for promoting the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. This study identifies the role of informal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) in entrepreneurial development of SMEs in Anambra State. The specific objective was to determine the extent to which vocational skills, particularly fashion design, garment making, and hair styling, influence SME entrepreneurial performance and sustainability. A survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 150 respondents using purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation with the aid of SPSS version 25. The findings revealed strong positive and significant relationships between fashion design and garment making skills and entrepreneurial development (r = 0.862, p < 0.01), as well as between hair styling skills and entrepreneurial development (r = 0.725, p < 0.01). The study concludes that informal ITVET skills significantly enhance entrepreneurial capacity and SME growth in Anambra State. It recommends strengthening practical skill acquisition, improving access to modern training tools, and providing supportive policies to enhance SME sustainability and economic development