ENTREPRENURIAL SKILLS

BY
DR. U.J. NWOGU

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

FACULTY OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

INTRODUCTION

The education industry the world over is involved in massive expansion of its
programmes as a response to globalization and unemployment. Nigeria is not
left out of this challenge hence the incorporation of entrepreneurship education
in all courses as a way of equipping the Nigerian graduate with skills geared
towards self-employment, employment creation and self-actualization.

Nwogu and Nnorom (2013) observed that:

This expansion justifies the realization by the government and
all stakeholders that education indeed is the key to overall
national development. It is an instrument for poverty
alleviation, political sensitization and participation, economic
development and transformation, cultural and religious
change, social and technological development and indeed the
making of the new man. (p.114)

This new man by implication should be able to take care of himself through job
creation and active productivity. Unfortunately, the unemployment ratio of
graduates has compounded the expectation of stakeholders from the education
sector hence the urgent need for a radically practical oriented education
programme with skill acquisition emphasis. This new emphasis on the acquisition
of skills is a self-realization attempt to rediscover ourselves as a people. Why?
Nwogu and Nnorom (2013) observed that:
In all societies whether literate or illiterate, democratic or
egalitarian, civilized or uncivilized, education has served as an
 instrument for development… it is an instrument for societal
growth, change and transformation… the traditional African
society recognized the role of education and utilized it for
societal growth. Every individual member of the society
received a high dosage of education appropriate for his
attitude and mentality. This all embracing education did not
produce applicants and unemployment. Every individual
acquired appropriate skills in line with his/her ability. (p.114)

However, the introduction of western education altered this practically oriented

education system. The educated man was conceived to be the man who had the
skill to read, write and do simple arithmetic. Its products were to serve as clerks
and interpreters who depended on employers.
Fafunwa (2004) while appreciating the ideals of traditional education retorted
that:
One very significant point that should be mentioned about the
traditional African education is the provision it makes for the
training of the handicapped person in order to make him a
contributing member of the society. The lame and the
hunchback, for example are taught sedentary occupations such
as weaving, or carving, or black smithery. Such persons are also
trained as priests, barbers, native doctors and the like
particularly among the Yoruba. (p. 22)

In fact, the short comings of the inherited colonial education led to the Phelp
Stroke Commission of1925 which recommended that education in the colonial
territories should be adapted to the mentalities and cultures of the recipient
nation.
Furthermore, education received should be a basis for technological
development, be adequately planned and restructured to accommodate drop
out and to promote “Learning to be” “learning to live” and not learning to pass
examination. The inability of our educational products to effectively respond to
these goals of “Learning to be” and “learning to live” justifies the current
emphasis f or entrepreneurship skills.
Objectives of Entrepreneurship Education

Every entrepreneurship education according to Paul (2005) and Nwufo (2012) is

structured to achieve the following objectives:
1. To offer functional education for the youth that will enable them to be
self-employed and self-reliant.
2. To serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development.
3. To offer tertiary institution graduates with adequate training in risk
management to make certain risk bearable and feasible.
4. To reduce high rate of poverty.
5. Provide the youths/graduates with skills and support that will enable them
establish a career in small and medium sized business.
6. To inculcate the spirit of perseverance in the youth and adults which will
enable them to persist in any business venture.
7. To create smooth transition from traditional to a modern industrial
economy
Entrepreneurial Skills

The chambers Dictionary defined skills as expertness: a craft or accomplishment,

aptitudes and competences appropriate for a particular job; an expert
knowledge.
Therefore an individual who intends to be a successful entrepreneur must possess
some skills. Toback (2013) identified some skills needed by any entrepreneur,
these include:
1. Seeing the big picture
2. Hunger to achieve
3. Courage
4. Functional competence
5. Prioritization and trade offs
6. Motivational skills
7. Decision making skills
8. Adaptability skills
9. Initiative skills
10. Command and control skills
But to mind tools editorial team (2017) entrepreneurial skills could be sub-
divided into four namely:
(a) Personal skills
(b) Interpersonal skills
(c) Critical and creative thinking skills
(d) Practical skills
Personal Skills: These skills include:

1. Optimism which represent the ability of the entrepreneur to go or endure

tough times.
2. Vision – Ability to see where things can be improved and create a
compelling vision and then inspire others.
3. Initiative
4. Desire for control (motivation to lead others)
5. Drive and persistence
6. Risk tolerance
7. Resilience (picking oneself up when things don’t work and overcoming fear
of failure).
Interpersonal Skills: This involves working closely with people and building
strong relationships. The skills here include:
1. Leadership and motivation (delegation etc.).
2. Communication skills.
3. Listening skills (active listening and empathy).
4. Personal relationships (emotional intelligence).
5. Negotiation.
6. Ethics – integrity, fairness and intelligence.
Critical and Creative Skills: This requires the ability to independently come
up with fresh ideas, make good decisions about projects and opportunities. It’s
components are:
1. Creative thinking
2. Problem solving and
3. Problem solving and recognition of opportunities.
Practical Skills: This involves:

- Goal setting
- Planning and organizing
- Decision making
However, in another dimension Sujan (2014) postulated some skills needed by
every entrepreneur:
1. Ability to manage money
2. Ability to raise money
3. Ability to relieve stress
4. Ability to be productive
5. Ability to have and make entrepreneur friends
6. Ability to identify strengths and weaknesses
7. Ability to hire effective people
8. Ability to train new staff
9. Ability to manage staff
10. Ability to connect via social networking
11. Ability to close a sale
12. Ability to identify new friends
13. Ability to deal with failure
14. Ability to improve your world
15. Ability to focus on your customers
Challenges to Entrepreneurial Skills

1. Inadequate access to finance and absence of a credit policy that address

specific needs of enterprises.
2. Frequent political and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
3. Poor access to vocational skills especially by the poor rural dwellers.
4. Presence of administrative and trade barriers that curtail capacity
building and inhibit access to technical support.
5. Corruption and greed in all sectors that tend to cripple laws that promote
free enterprise.
References

Fafunwa, A.B. (2004). History of Education in Nigeria. Ibadan: Dafemson

Printing & Park Ltd.
Jayson, D. (2014). 5 skills every successful entrepreneur must master. Retrieved
from: www.entrepreneur.com/article 236128.
Nwogu, U.J. & Nnorom, C.I. (2013). Managing entrepreneurship education for
national security in Nigeria. Research in education 19(1) 114 – 118.
Nwufo, K. (2012). Entrepreneurship education in Nigeria: In U.M.O. Ivowi, & B.B.
Akpan, Education in Nigeria from the beginning to the future. A book
of reading in honour of Prof. O.C. Nwanna. Lagos: Formost educational
services.
Paul, E.O. (2005). Entrepreneurship education. In P.N. Ezema, E.O. Paul, B.O.
anosike & A. Godwin (eds) Entrepreneurship in vocational education.
Enugu: Ozybel pub.
Sujan, P. (2014). The 17 skills required to succeed as an entrepreneur. Retrieved
from www.entrepreneur.com/article 236128
www. Entrepreneur.com. 242327