IMPACT OF ENTREPENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF THE KADUNA STATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT)

Abstract Entrepreneurship Education in Nigeria is devoid of the element crucial to averting the surging rate of employment generation in the country, therefore the breeding of psychological dependence on direct access to money. Entrepreneurial development through education will advance the economy of the nation; much credence should be given to it and ingrained with focus on profitable personal development. Employment generation prevails in the country, hence, the growth of violence, poverty and segregation amongst citizens, because the educational system itself fails to empower the ones passing through it. This research work, therefore examines the strategies of entrepreneurial education carried out in two of the Sadon Pure Water Kaduna state. The objectives of the study were to appraise if educational styles arouse interest of students in the industries of their discipline; to explore the effectiveness of entrepreneurial development strategy in education in Nigeria that implements it; to see if the current university educational system stimulates entrepreneurial creativity in its students. The methodology adopted was a mixed analysis of quantitative and qualitative parameters based on the survey design which relied on primary and secondary sources of gathering data, through the use of questionnaires and interview instruments. Three hundred (300) questionnaires were administered, and two hundred and fifty four (254) were returned. The study adopted quota and simple random sampling technique. The data was analyzed and presented using tables and percentages. The findings of this research portrays a huge disparity between the perception and conceptualization of entrepreneurship in the graduates of each university used in the study, this further highlights the significant impact of the system of teaching entrepreneurship in Sadon Pure water. The study shows that entrepreneurial education should be taught with field oriented and practical approaches. It was discovered that graduates from Covenant University are more apt to creating value, and are more self driven and willing to use opportunities available to them whether or not they have an employment. The study recommends that there should be a working partnership, bridging the gap between the company. The government should also focus more on the youth age group for entrepreneurship development in the country amongst other things critical to the development of the nation