The Influence of Entrepreneurial Education on the Startup and Performance of SMES In Nigeria
Keywords:
Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial, Education, Sustainable, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)Abstract
This study examined the influence of entrepreneurial education on the startup and performance of SMEs in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Entrepreneurial education has emerged as a potential solution to address the challenges faced by SMEs during their inception and developmental stages. Entrepreneurial education encompasses a range of formal and informal learning experiences designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for individuals to undertake entrepreneurial activities. Using a survey research design, data were collected through questionnaires from a sample of 400 registered SME owners in Ado-Ekiti, this was determined by Yamane's (1964) model. The data analysis methods included mean, standard deviation, frequencies, and simple linear regression. The findings revealed that entrepreneurial education significantly enhances the adoption of sustainable practices, with a coefficient of 0.251 (p=0.011). In conclusion, entrepreneurial education is shown to positively affect sustainable practices in SMEs in Ekiti State. Recommendations include collaborative efforts by government, industry associations, and educational institutions to develop tailored entrepreneurial education programs for SMEs, creation of platforms for experience sharing among SME owners, and incentives for SMEs adopting sustainable practices.
