CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Education is obviously the basic instrument of economic growth and
technological advancement of any society. It is in recognition of this
fact that governments commit immense resources to ensure the provision
of education for their citizens and also tailored their policies
towards ensuring that it is made accessible to the generality of their
citizenry (Oyebade et al., 2008). However, business education is an
essential element of this general education. It is concerned with the
impartation of business orientation and knowledge for personal and
national development.
Business education involves teaching students the fundamentals,
concepts, theories and processes of business. To Okoli (2010), business
education is an important part of the general education which
emphasizes on skills and competencies acquisition for use in offices and
business related occupations.
Similarly, Nwanewezi (2010) describes business
education as encompassing education for office occupations, business
teaching, business administration and economic understanding. In all,
Abdulkadir (2011) noted that one remarkable important characteristic of
business education program is that, its products can function
independently as self-employed and employers of labor. To this end, the
tenet of business education embraces basic education for teaching
career, entrepreneurship, business understanding, office environment
and vocational practices.
Education in this field occurs at several levels, including
primary, secondary and higher education, with the greatest activity in
the later. However, Igboke (2005) enumerated the following as the
objectives of business education at all levels of education:
- To develop basic skills for personal use in the future
- To acquire the basic knowledge and skills of business education
- To relate the knowledge and skills acquired to national development
- To develop basic skills in office occupation
- To provide the needed background for teaching in business subjects
- To prepare students for further training in business studies
- To provide orientation and basic skills with which to start a life of work for those who may not undergo further training
For education to really serve as a veritable vehicle for
socioeconomic growth and development as well as for the actualization
of these lofty objectives of business education in tandem, educational
institutions and its systems must function optimally in relation to its
set standards.
Historically, business education did not come about in Nigeria
through government, but through the individual initiative of a few
Nigerian entrepreneurs. Such individuals were quick to realize the
importance of business education not only to their personal, but also
to national economic growth and development. As a matter of fact, prior
to Nigeria’s independence and 10 years after, business teacher
education, like other vocational and technical education disciplines,
was not given any thought in Nigerian teacher education curricula. This
is not to say that the Colonial educational administrators did not
recognize the importance of this form of teacher education. As reported
by
Ekpenyong (1992), some form of business and technical teacher
education programme was introduced in the curricula of Higher College,
Yaba (1932-47), and of Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology
(1954-61).
Business education exposes students to different ways of being
innovative, It also facilitates Job Competence, as well as development
of understanding for vocational opportunities available in the field of
business. Entrepreneurship without adequate education, knowledge and
skills, usually leads to failure. Judging by the figures that are
coming out of the Education Ministry. In the last few years, at least
60% of graduates are not able to get employment immediately which does
not encourage economic growth (Lawal 2005). Because of that, people go
into one entrepreneurial venture or another, but unfortunately, they
have not been adequately prepared to face the attendant challenges in
business. Now it has become necessary to incorporate Business education
into the curriculum in order to prepare our graduates for
self-employment.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Business Education is a type of training which, while playing its
part in the achievement of the general aims of education on any given
level, has its primary objective as the preparation of people to enter
into a career, to render efficient service and to advance from their
present level of employment to higher levels which always have
significance effect on the economic development (Osuala 2003). Basic
Business Education affords to every individual an opportunity to
develop the skills, abilities and understanding that will enable him to
handle competently his personal business affairs; to develop an
understanding of the vocational opportunity available in the broad
field of business and to assume his citizenship responsibilities
through enlightened participation in, as well as an understanding and
appreciation of the business system (Osuala 2003). Furthermore, Basic
Business Education is the broad area of knowledge that deals with the
economy. It identifies and explains the role of business as an economic
institution and provides content and experience that prepare the
individual for effective participation as a citizen and consumer. The
researcher is examining the relevance of business education on the
economic development of Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the relevance of Business education program on economic development of Nigeria.
- To examine how the Business education program in Nigeria is operated.
- To determine the relationship between Business education program and economic development of Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What is the relevance of Business education program on economic development of Nigeria?
- How is the Business education program in Nigeria operated?
- What is the relationship between Business education program and economic development of Nigeria?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO: There is no significant relationship between Business education program and economic development of Nigeria
HA: There is significant relationship between Business education program and economic development of Nigeria
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the significance of this study:
- Results from this study will educate the government of
Nigeria, stakeholders in the business sector on the relevance of
business education on the economic development of Nigeria.
- This research will also serve as a resource base to other
scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in
this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide
new explanation to the topic
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study on a survey on the relevance of business education
program to economic development of Nigeria will cover the Curriculum of
business education from primary to tertiary education level in Nigeria
with the view of identifying the influence on the Nigeria economic
development.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to
impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant
materials, literature or information and in the process of data
collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This
consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
REFERENCES
Abdulkadir, A.A., 2011. The role of entrepreneurship education in empowering Nigerian youths. Bus Edu. J., 8(1): 14-22.
Igboke, S.A., 2005. Business Education: Principles and Methods. Jones Communication Publishers, Enugu.
Lawal, S.S., 2005. The need to improve teacher quality in business education programme in Nigerian universities. Int. J. Edu. Res., 11(1): 42-51.
Nwanewezi, M.C., 2010. Problems in business education research in ICT era as perceived by business educators. Bus. Edu. J., 7(2): 46-54.
Okoli, B.E., 2010. A case for entrenchment of ICT literacy in the
business education programme. J. Voc. Adult Edu., 7(1): 82-87.
Oyebade, S.A., S.A. Oladipo and J.A. Adetoro, 2008. Determinants
and Strategies for Quality Assurance in Nigerian University Education.
Retrieved from: http://herp-net.org, (Accessed on: August 4, 2012).