ACQUISITION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT BYRURAL YOUTH IN CHANCHAGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Acquisition of entrepreneurship skills development by rural youth in Chanchaga local government area of Niger state, Nigeria was examined in this study. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire administered to 12 0 respondents from the study area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Tobit regression model. The result of the analysis revealed that majority of the respondents were between the age ranges of 21 – 30 years with mean age of 29 years , 80% w ere males, 53.3% were single and 90.8% had household size ranging from 1 – 5 persons with a mean of 3 persons. In terms of education,96.7% of the respondents acquired respondents having an income ranges between N formal education with about half (45.8%) of the 10,000 – N 30,000 monthly. The study further revealed that a majority (85.0%) of the respondents had acquired tailoring as an entrepreneurship skills which ranked 1st among other entrepreneurship skills development, this was followed by baking (79.2%) and barbing (64.2%) skills ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Reasons for acquiring entrepreneurship skills was for capacity building (87.5%) followed by self-development (74.2%) . The Tobit regression analysis revealed th at age, education, income, cooperative and access to information were significant and statistically influences acquisition of entrepreneurship skills development. The seve re constraints identified by the respondents were inconsistent government policy ( = 3.23), problem of corruption ( = 2.78), lack of investment capital ( = 2.97) and inadequate infrastructure ( = 2.59) . It could be concluded that Tailoring was the dominant entrepreneurship skills acquired by the rural youths in the study area . It was therefore recommended that policy makers should recognize the essence of entrepreneurship to economic development by creating enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive and the spirit of entrepreneurship should be encouraged among young people.