ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND THE GROWTH OF SMES IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Entrepreneurship education is critical to the success and development of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). SMEs are regarded as the backbone of the Nigerian economy, helping to create jobs, reduce poverty, and drive economic progress. The primary goal of the research was to look into entrepreneurship education and the growth of SMEs in North-Central Nigeria. The study used a survey research design. The study's population includes all Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), which totaled 5,188,310 entities as of 2022. The Taro Yarmane approach was used to determine the sample size for the study, which was 400 people. The study made us of multiple regression to analyzed the hypotheses of the study with the aid of SPSS version 21.0. The study found that entrepreneurial awareness has positive (23.040) and significant (.000) effect on growth of small and medium enterprises in NorthCentral, Nigeria, entrepreneurial learning has positive (16.608) and significant (.000) effect on growth of small and medium enterprises in North-Central, Nigeria while entrepreneurial curriculum has positive (5.979) and significant (.000) effect on growth of small and medium enterprises in North-Central, Nigeria. The study concluded that entrepreneurship education significantly affects growth of SMEs in North-Central, Nigeria. The study recommended that SMEs should place a high priority on raising awareness among entrepreneurs about crucial factors such as market trends, technological advancements, economic conditions, social and cultural dynamics, environmental considerations, and legal and regulatory requirements. SMEs owners and employees should be encouraged to actively participate in practical workshops, seminars, and training sessions that offer real-world case studies and hands-on experiences. SMEs should establish collaborations with universities, colleges, and vocational training institutions to develop and implement relevant and practical entrepreneurial curricula.

1 29 Mar, 2024

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