TRANSFORMING TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT: EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

This study discusses the concept of transforming training as a unique management system. It also traces its root to the evolution of psychology and education in the 1990s. The study also conceptualizes transforming training in some diverse ways. It argues that for a healthy and smooth running of a system of administration, there is need for transforming training. Therefore, it sees transformation as a necessary tool of national development and stability. The study adopts transformative learning theory which says that the process of perspective transformation has three dimensions: psychological (changes in understanding of the self), convictional (revision of belief systems), and behavioral (changes in lifestyle). The methodology adopted for these researchwork is via context analysis. It is therefore concluded that organizations are been plugged by the efforts of individuals in transforming training in order to bridge this gap in the chain of events. The concept of experimental approach as an aspect of educational psychology formally surfaced in the study

WHAT CONTRIBUTE TO BUSINESS START-UP AND SUVIVAL? A VIEW POINT

oai:ojs2.gujed.com.ng:article/3The purpose of this editorial is to spark questions to GJED authors about what impact business start-up and business survival, as well as the importance of entrepreneurship education.The research approach is editorial view point, manuscripts received during this first edition and also the emerging discourse in other leading journals. Thus, questionsareasked for authors to buttress on during their future manuscripts.Itis also a basis for further discussion and a concern for entrepreneurial mind-set society. However, this is based on our views, although it isalso as a consequence ofinconsistent findings from leading journals.Hopefully, authors will find the questions helpful, although it isalso emphasized that it is a viewpoint. This editorial provides more “food for thought” for authors

UNVEILING THE NEXUS BETWEEN PRACTICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT AMONGST UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN NASSARAWA STATE

Nigerian economic landscape have been showing disturbing indices of general insecurity, restiveness amongst her teeming youths that take to infamous cybercrimes and online banking frauds in addition to kidnapping of unsuspecting citizens that hold sway in virtually all her geo-political zones, sustainable economic development appeared to be a tall ambition to achieve. Analysts traced the sources of these unwholesome acts to general unemployment of the enlightened youths that have acquired tertiary educations but lost hopes of being gainfully employed by the system. With 170 universities and over 1.5 million annual university graduates offloaded into the unemployment market, the saving grace appeared to be total embracement of the tenets of entrepreneurship. With the sole objective of unveiling the relationship between practical entrepreneurship (PE) and self-employment (SE) amongst Nigerian University graduates, four variables were identified: skill acquisition (SA), Entrepreneurship Orientation (EO), Internship (I) and Entrepreneurship mindset (EM). From a population of 589 and sample size of 238, using stratified sampling technique; and Yaro Yamani sample size determination formula, Structured Questionnaire were administered in three local government areas of Nassarawa State in Nigerian North-Central geo-political zone at 70% Cronbach’s  reliability test. It was found that SA of graduates of Nigeria University has significant relationship with EO(r, r2. and p = 0.55,.030 and <.000)respectively; and I of Nigeria university graduates have significant relevance on EM (r, r2. and p = 0.6,.036 and <.000) respectively. The study recommended that the most potent weapon to boost self-employment amongst Nigerian University Graduates is for the Universities to make Practical Entrepreneurship compulsory at all levels in all Departments and also that all students, after practical entrepreneurship training in their first year on campuses, should be directed to register Business names of their dreams with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as steps toward self-employment

TECHNICAL SKILLS AMONG SMALL-SCALE ENTREPRENEURS IN KAMPALA UGANDA

Utilizing the ex post facto, prospective comparative designs, purposive and stratified random sampling by proportional allocation, this investigation studied 386 small-scale entrepreneurs (SSEs) in Kampala Uganda in these aspects: (1) extent of technical skills possessed and (2) differences in extent of technical skills possessed in terms of gender. The data were elicited using a validated and tested for reliability questionnaire and revealed the following results:  the technical skills (mean=3.29; ts=5.401) were moderately possessed; the extent of technical skills possessed differed significantly according to gender (male more than female). Anchored on these findings, the technical skills needed to be more promoted through education and training of small scale entrepreneurs in business skills, legal aspects of the business, marketing and time management

INFLUENCE OF SKILL ACQUISITION, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP GROWTH INAWKA METROPOLIS

Despite various policies and programmes by the government aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship growth through the development of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), the level of poverty and unemployment rate have remained high. The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of skill acquisition, innovation and creativity on entrepreneurship growth in Awka Metropolis. The study employed survey research design. The population of the study was 139 registered tailors, carpenters and show makers in Awka Metropolis. The judgmental sampling technique was utilized to identify the sample of entire census population. Closed ended structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to test the reliability of instruments used. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypotheses were tested using multiple regression. The finding shows that skill acquisition and creativity positively and significantly influence entrepreneurship growth. The study also showed that innovation has no significant influence on entrepreneurship growth. The study recommended that the government, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders should continue to promote skill acquisition, creativity and innovation to reduce joblessness as well as criminal activities in Awka Metropolis

EVALUATION OF UNIVERSITY GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS COMPETENCE IN NORTH-WEST, NIGERIA

One of the challenges facing university graduates is unemployability. This is because university graduates have generally been described as poorly-trained and are deficient in employability skills. Thus, this study evaluated university graduate employability skills competence in North-west, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examine graduates’ employability competence in communication, basic computer, analytical, entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills. A descriptive (survey) research design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select four states for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 306 out of 1,212 top management staff from educational, commercial, science and technology industries in the Selected States (Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna). The instrument used for the study was a validated researcher-designed questionnaire with a test re-test reliability index of 0.89. Descriptive statistic of mean score was used to answer the research questions. The findings of the study revealed that the employability skills competence of university graduates in communication, analytical and entrepreneurial skills were low with mean scores of 1.86, 1.81 and 1.71, respectively; while basic computer and interpersonal skills were moderate (mean scores = 2.18 and 2.12, respectively). This study concluded that university graduates’ employability skills competence level in North-west was low and the implication of this is that the Nigerian universities needed to focus more on developing graduates’ employability skills. This study recommended that more emphasis should be placed on the employability skills competence of graduates and the curricular content of every area of specialisation should be reviewed to be more activity-based in meeting the skills required by employers of labour