Seminar Paper on Entrepreneurship on Poverty and Unemployment Reduction in Selected Local Government Areas in Anambra State
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To determine the level of awareness of people towards entrepreneurship development as a tool for unemployment and poverty reduction in some selected local government in Anambra state
- To ascertain the role of entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction in some selected local government area of Anambra state
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Poverty
The concept “poverty” has been defined from various approaches by scholars to divergent ideological perspectives. The United Nations. Programme (UNDP, 1994) defines poverty as that income level below which a minimum nutritionally adequate diet together with essential non-food requirements are not affordable. Poverty is grouped by UNDP in three broad categories as contained in the universally accepted definition to mean absolute poverty, relative and material poverty.
Absolute poverty means the inability to provide such physiological subsistence (i.e. foods, shelter, clothing, potable water, safety, healthcare service, basic education, transportation and gainful employment) to the extent of being unable to protect human dignity. People under this category receive meager income and their capacity to make savings is zero.
Unemployment
Unemployment and total employment are the broadest indicator of economic activity as reflected by the labour market. The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines unemployed as members of the economically active population who are without work but available for and seeking work, including people who have lost their jobs or who have voluntarily left work (IBRD, 2009). Morio and Zoctizoum (1980) define unemployment as works available for employment who contract of employment who contract of employment has terminated or been temporarily suspended and who are without a job and seeking paid employment, persons never previously employed whose most recent status was other than that of employee, together with persons who had been in retirement, who were available for work during the specified period and were seeking paid temporarily or indefinitely laid off without pay. In Nigeria’s unemployment scenario, the young school leavers of all categories are the worst hit. These creams of jobless youths belong to the major workforce of the economy but being wasted as they seek for job endlessly without success.
Theoretical Review
The study is anchored on Human Capital Theory propounded by Robert (1991). He advocates that education is a tool for improving human capital, stimulating labour productivity and boasting the levels of technology across the globe. He encourages spending on nation‟s workforce because expenditure on education, training and development is a productive investment. Besides, human capital improvement through quality education and training is a critical factor that propels economic growth and development in many parts of the countries. Human capital can have major effects on an individual’s risk of poverty or success. It was indicated that human capital significantly affects people’s earning, and consequently lack of human capital can place an individual at risk for poverty. According to Rank (2004) and Darling (2002), individuals with greater human capital are more likely to be competitive in the labor market than those who lack human capital. Human capital is seen as a set of skill/characteristics that increase workers’ productivity and performance in any organization. Human capital has played a positive significant role in economic development, productivity, education, growth and innovation which has been stated as a justification for government subsidies for education and job skills training. Human capital improvement through quality education and training is a critical factor that propels economic growth and development in Nigeria. The theory is relevant to the study because it emphasis that when people acquired quality education and skill training they will contribute to economic growth and development by establishing and managing new venture, creating employment which will improved the standard of living of the people. Mc clellands’ achievement motivation theory (1961) MC Clelland, advocated that some people have need for achievement, some for power and others for affiliation. People with strong need for achievement tend to be highly motivated by challenging and competitive work situations. He asserts that a high need for achievement in a national population is necessary to launch and sustain a high level of economic development which means that there is a correlation between high achievement needs and high performance. The high achievement is linked with entrepreneurial spirit necessary to take some risks and develop country‟s economic resources. The relevance of this theory is that when youths are sufficiently motivated to have high need for achievement in life through entrepreneurship education and training, there is greater tendency for them to set up their own businesses after graduation without waiting for white collar jobs.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to Entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction in selected local government areas in Anambra State.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items or things. The researcher is interested in getting information on Entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction in selected local government areas in Anambra State. 75 SMEs in selected local government area of Anambra state
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is about the analysis and presentation of data collected from the field through questionnaire. The analysis of the data with particular question immediately followed by the presentation of findings.
As mentioned in chapter three, 50 questionnaires were administered and 50 were retrieved and necessary analysis was carried out on them and presented as follows:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction in selected local government areas in Anambra State. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction
Summary
This study was on entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction in selected local government areas in Anambra State. Two objectives were raised which included: To determine the level of awareness of people towards entrepreneurship development as a tool for unemployment and poverty reduction in some selected local government in Anambra state and to ascertain the role of entrepreneurship on poverty and unemployment reduction in some selected local government area of Anambra state. The total population for the study is 75 SMEs in selected local government area of Anambra state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
This paper focuses on using the entrepreneurship education in reducing poverty and unemployment in Nigeria. In doing justice to this paper, it extensively discussed the concept of poverty, unemployment and entrepreneurship education. From all indications, poverty and unemployment are major social menace in Nigeria. It is sufficing to say that, unemployment creates poverty and poverty lead to security problem and only the entrepreneurship education can salvage the situation and stimulate the nation economy. Revitalization of agricultural development schemes and reintroduction of school farm schemes to create job opportunities for the army of unemployed youths who are currently economically wasteful in the labour market. It is interesting to note, that small businesses today offer the best future for the expansion of employment opportunities in Nigeria.
Recommendation
However, the paper recommends that entrepreneurship education should be included in the national school curriculum from primary school level in order to promote empowerment through entrepreneurial skill acquisition and training.
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