EMPOWERMENT OF THE YOUTH BY MEANS OF

DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS IN

NIGERIA

AYENI, Samson Toluwalase

Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages
University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
toluwalase.ayeni11@gmail.com

Abstract
For the people of a country to achieve their individual aspirations and collectively contribute

toward the development of a nation, they need to be entrepreneurial. The entrepreneurs play a

vital role in the process of economic growth and development. The focus of the paper, therefore,

is to examine how youth empowerment can serve as a means of developing entrepreneurial skills.

This paper also reviews the various literature on the concept of empowerment, entrepreneurial

skills, entrepreneurial development, labour market, the aims and objectives of entrepreneurship

development, factors that facilitate entrepreneurship development, and the effect of

entrepreneurship development on youth empowerment. Among the recommendations are that the

government should adopt some policies and organize programmes that will encourage the growth

and development of entrepreneurial skills in youth and that the educational authorities of the

country should review the curriculum to embrace existing human capital development centres most

especially the skills acquisition centres at affordable cost and accessible to her citizen.

Keywords: Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurial Skills, Entrepreneurial development, labour

market.
Introduction

Entrepreneurship development which formed the bedrock of all business evolutions and economic

stability of nation has its peculiar problems. One of the major problems Nigeria encounters as a

nation is graduate unemployment (Ojeagu, 2011) to the extent that young men and women

graduate from the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education every year with little hope

of securing jobs (Inegbenebor, 2005). He also stated that the most significant factors that have

complicated the problem of unemployment is the low rate of the growth and development of the

economy.

Between the year 1995 and 2002, the Gross Domestic Product grows at an average of only 3.3%

per annum (OECD, 2012). As a result of these, the capability of the economy to absorb the products

of an over expanding tertiary institutions is severely limited. In consultation with the National

Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), Nigeria seek to establish an

economy in which diverse and numerous indigenous enterprises engage in industrial trading,

financing and rendering of services for the purpose of creating wealth, generating employment

opportunities and eradicating poverty. Poverty, unemployment and corruption are major national

problems in Nigeria (Akpan, 2011).

According to UNIDO representative in West Africa, Matsushita (2008), Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020

is not achievable at the present rate of industrialization in the nation’s economy.

The blessing of national endowment has not meant much for most Nigerians, even though the

country ranks 6th in the world crude oil production and there is abundance of every conceivable

natural resources including arable land, water resources, favourable weather condition, mineral

deposits and a large population, yet Nigerians are among the poorest in the world. (Akpan, 2011)
Despite the fact that Nigeria is being blessed with enormous natural resources, the lack of ability

to utilize these resources judiciously has always been a challenge. Consequently, this major factor

has led to the depreciation of the economy, thereby discouraging potential entrepreneurs to

establish industries.

Nwagwu (2004) noted that many Nigerian youth are wallowing in abject poverty while many

women and children are disease prone and dehumanized as a result of poverty and unemployment.

She suggested that government should establish vocational and technical schools in order to impart

employability skills and competences to youths, graduates, women and others who would be self-

reliant and enterprising. These would definitely facilitate the development of entrepreneurial skills

in youths and graduates. Moreover, the reason why most graduates find it challenging to secure a

job is because they are being referred to as half-baked products in the labour market due to the fact

that their curriculum are not related to the needs of the employers. As a result of this, graduates

are subjected to specific period of training before they are fully employed as workers in an

industry.

Oviawe and Anavberokha (2008) gave an opinion that if our graduates are properly harnessed

through entrepreneurship skills, Nigeria would be transformed technologically, economically,

industrially and socio-politically.

As a result of these qualities, our youth will be sufficiently empowered to participate and contribute

efficiently and effectively in the labour market.

Concept of Entrepreneurship
The term entrepreneurship is derived from a French word ‘entrepreneur’ which means a person

who starts, and organizes a commercial enterprise especially one having financial risk. Mereditl et

al (1991) looks at an entrepreneur as an individual who has the ability to see and evaluate business

opportunity, gather necessary resources to take advantage of them and initiate appropriate action

to ensure success and he is a risk taker.

The concept of entrepreneurship has been defined by diverse authors in various ways;

According to Gana (2008), entrepreneurship can be defined as the willingness and the ability of

an individual to seek out investment opportunities in an environment and be able to establish and

run an enterprise successfully based on the identified opportunities.

According to Ihekwoba (2007), entrepreneurship is when an individual develops a new venture or

a new approach to an old business or idea or a unique way of giving the market place a product or

service by using resources in a new way under conditions or risk.

According to Iheonunekwu (2003), entrepreneurship can be defined as a clear manifestation of

effective manipulation of human intelligence as demonstrated in creative performance.

According to Igbo (2004), entrepreneurship can be defined as the willingness and the ability of an

individual to seek out investment opportunities in an environment and be able to establish and run

an enterprise successfully based on the identified opportunities.

Aims and Objectives of Entrepreneurship Education and Development

Akpoveta and Agbomah (2009) said that the necessary incidence of youth unemployment,

particularly graduate employment in Nigeria has been associated with existing weaknesses in the

nation’s educational system which places more emphasis on paper qualification than functional or

pragmatic education. Consequently, there would be high production of unemployable graduates

not suited for the labour market. Damuchi (2001), captured the present manpower labour market

discrepancy scenario, he observed that the Nigeria educational system has failed to produce

workers with adequate technical, cognitive and attitudinal skills required to meet the labour market

demands.

However, taking a critical examination on the present state of affairs, majority of graduates of

higher institutions in Nigeria lack the required technical communication and human relations as

well as entrepreneurial skills required for self-reliance and self-employment due to non-functional

education to which they are exposed. In 1986, the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced the

“Small Scale Industry and Graduate Empowerment Scheme” under the National Directorate of

Employment (NDE), in order to correct this anomaly and tackle the consequences of mass youth

unemployment (Akpoveta and Agbomah 2009). They further stated that skill acquisition

workshops and seminars were organized for unemployed graduates who are particularly re-trained

on the technicalities of starting and running small scale businesses, such as engaging in the

production of detergents and cosmetic, poultry, fish farming, graphics and web design, network

marketing, mobile phone repair and maintenance etc. The National Directorate Empowerment

(NDE) hereby made provisions for loans to beneficiaries in order to enable them commence and

implement business plans and projects of their choice after which they had acquired

entrepreneurial skills and techniques, also for them to become an independent entrepreneur.

Preferably, the scheme would have acted as an instrument for creating more jobs and reducing the

rate of unemployment but due to some shortcomings in which the government need to take

corrective actions in order to maintain the exertions of the government. These limitations include
inadequate management of their businesses, lack of proper planning and management deficiency

in proper marketing strategies, lack of cooperation among the beneficiaries etc. Akpoevta and

Agboma (2009), also noted that these shortcomings outlined should be treated and solved in order

to position beneficiaries for proper and successful management of their small scale businesses.

Oborah (2006) outlined the major aims and objectives of entrepreneurship development which

include the following:-

 To provide meaningful education for the youths, which could make them self-reliant and

subsequently encourage them to derive profit and be self-dependent.

 To provide graduates with the training and support necessary to help them establish a career

in small and medium sized businesses.

 To provide graduates with training skills that will make them meet the manpower needs of

the society.

 To provide graduates with enough training in risk management to make uncertainty almost

possible and easy

Furthermore, Atakpa (2011) submits that one of the strategic objectives of entrepreneurship

education is to produce graduates of international standard with appropriate knowledge and skills

in their field of study who will be highly employable and have the ability to employ themselves.

Major Steps Required for Developing Entrepreneurial Skills

According to Branson (2010), the following are the five (5) major steps that are required for

entrepreneurial skills development and achievement of entrepreneurial goal:-

(i) The People Factor Skill: While the current thinking in business schools hold that

someone with an idea needs to succeed through focus, clarity and good business plan and
 strategy. It is obvious that bringing together a great team that is united by strong motivation

and inculcated in students from the beginning as a skill on how to assemble great

management team that have a great vision, strong passion and real sense of ownership.

(ii) Politeness Skill: A successful business is neither determined by the specie of the products

being sold nor the services rendered. It is determined by the group of people bound

together by common vision and mission. A successful business is made by enthusiasm and

passionate staff characterized with high integrity and sense of responsibility.

(iii) Appreciation Skills: One should never criticize or discriminate but rather focus on how

to trace and take corrective actions on mistakes. If these mistakes persists, one should

always take the position that one have to learn from them because they are inevitable, but

one must also try not to dwell on what went wrong.

(iv) Creative Skills: This skill will teach one how to be genuinely enthusiastic in doing

business. One has to be able to generate new ideas that is more distinctive from others. It

also involves the act of packaging and branding one’s service in order to achieve an

outstanding success and move ahead of other competitors.

(v) Screwing Skill: It is also referred to as ‘just do it skill’. Finally, to succeed in a business

one must be determined and brave enough to give it a go. Establishing a business is a big

risk, an entrepreneur needs resolve and conviction to overcome the early hurdles. Most

start-ups fail in the first few years, so a key ingredient of a success is the ability to pick

up, try again and never relent.

Characteristics of Entrepreneurs

An entrepreneur possesses some certain personal characteristics that makes them quite distinctive.

A true entrepreneur is a rare breed, it is someone who possesses a unique cocktail of traits, skills

and qualities which enable them to explore and exploit the available resources. Some of the

important characteristics attributable to successful entrepreneurs are enumerated below:-

(i) Goal-oriented: Entrepreneurs are confident, independent, and optimistic. They are all

about setting goals and exerting their efforts into achieving them. They also tend to be

strategic in their game plans and always have a clear idea in mind of exactly what they

want to achieve and how they plan to achieve it.

(ii) Committed to their business: Entrepreneurs are not easily defeated; they view failure as

an opportunity for future success, and if they don’t succeed the first time, they will stay

committed to their business and will continue to try and try again until they succeed.

(iii) Risk taker: A true entrepreneur does not ask questions about whether they will succeed

or not. They truly believe they will. They exude this confidence in all aspects of life, and

as a bi-product, they are never afraid to take risks due to these unbinding faith that

ultimately, they will triumph.

(iv) Good listener and learner: The most important part of learning is listening and a good

entrepreneur will do this in abundance.

(v) Inherently creative: They are able to come up with ingenious ideas, also turn these ideas

into profits.

(vi) Leadership: Entrepreneurs possess great qualities of a good leader; they work together

with others, also responsive to suggestions and criticisms.

(vii) Originality: Entrepreneurs are innovative, creative, flexible, resourceful, versatile and

knowledgeable.

Implications of Entrepreneurial Development on Youth Empowerment

Youth empowerment is pivotal to economic growth and national development. Developing

countries like Nigeria that desire to develop coupled with cooperation of her citizens commit a

sizeable proportion of resources to empowering the citizens most especially the youth if

developmental objectives must be attained.

Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural and cultural process whereby young people gain

the ability, authority and agency to make decisions and implement positive changes in their own

lives and the lives of other people, including youths and adults. Youth empowerment is often

addressed as gateway to intergenerational equity, civil engagement and democracy building

(Wikipedia, 2013).

The Commonwealth of Nations opined that young people are empowered when they acknowledge

that they have or can create choices in life, are aware of the implications of these choices, make

informed decisions freely, take action based on that decision and accept responsibility for the

consequences of these actions (Wikipedia 2013). Taking a cue from the perspectives of

entrepreneurship education earlier mentioned as enunciated by Oborah (2006). It is easily

deductible that entrepreneurship development will in no mean way create jobs which translate to

youth empowerment.

Youth empowerment entails providing the youth with the ability to perform in terms of having the

necessary skills and knowledge and giving a fair opportunity to perform (Mogolori 1998);

Sprieritzer (2005). Within the context of the society, the fundamental goal of empowerment is to
help individual to improve the quality of their own lives and share equitably, the benefits of

economic growth. In fact, entrepreneurship development reduces the rate of unemployment and

poverty to the barest minimum especially to those who develop interest and embrace the

knowledge and skills inherent in it.

Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, it is obvious that one major challenges facing the youths in Nigeria is the

high rate of unemployment. However, this issue can be solved by empowering the youth through

entrepreneurial development. Entrepreneurial development would help produce an individual who

can explore and exploit available resources and initiate economically rewarding business projects

that could be a catalyst for reducing the rate of unemployment problem in the nation.

Also, entrepreneurship education has been identified across the globe as an instrument for creating

a suitable and sustainable economy, hence, Isire and Ovekaemo (2008) state that no country can

develop economically, industrially, technologically, without the intervention of highly stimulating

and developing skills.

Recommendation

Based on the foregoing, the following recommendations are suggested:

(i) The government should adopt some policies and organize programmes that will encourage

the growth and development of entrepreneurial skills in youth;

(ii) The educational authorities of the country should review the curriculum to embrace, and

encourage the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills;

(iii) The government should establish and enhance existing human capital development centres

most especially the skills acquisition centres at affordable cost and accessible to her citizen;
(iv) Youth should also understand themselves and work as a team so as to help them identify

areas of strength and weaknesses. This would make them more focused in life as to prevent

the challenges of unemployment;

(v) Government should pursue policies that will increase access to loan for financing youths,

and provide needed basic amenities and infrastructural facilities that will enable

enterprising youth to flourish in the society.

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