Assessment of entrepreneurial skills required for self-employment in agriculture in colleges of education In Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed entrepreneurial skills required for self-employment in agriculture in colleges of education in northwest Nigeria. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. De scriptive survey research design was used. The population of the study was 276 which comprised of 255 lecturers and 51 technologists. Census sampling technique was used to arrive at 244 as sample size with 198 lecturers and 46 technologists. Structure questionnaire on 5-point rating scale was developed. A reliability coefficient of 0.70 and 0.77 were obtained using Cronbach alpha coefficient reliability tool. Weighted mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses at 5% level of significant. The result revealed that all the entrepreneurial skills were for self-employment in agriculture. On the levels of agripreneurial skills assessed, 3 were found to be very highly required, fifteen were highly required and two were required. The result of the hypotheses revealed that there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the mean re sponses of lecturers and technologists in Federal and State Colleges of Education on entrepreneurial skills for self employment in agriculture. Also, there was no significant difference on the levels of agripreneurial skills required for self-employment in agriculture. Based on the findings, it was recommended that, the management of the Colleg es of Education should send lectures and technologists for training on the area of entrepreneurial skills to better prepare students for self-employment in agriculture after graduation among others.