Assessment of Entrepreneurial Skills and Its Utilization among the Home Economics graduates of Federal College of Education Zaria. A Case Study of Home Economics Graduates in two Geopolitical Zones of Kaduna State

Abstract

This study assessed the current rate of unemployment in Nigeria which places an increased demand for students to acquire skills that may enable them to become self–reliant and compete in the global market after graduation. For this study three (3) entrepreneurial skills and their utilization among the graduates of Home Economics in two geopolitical zones of Kaduna state were chosen and examined. The three (3) entrepreneurial skills used are creativity skills, innovation skills and foresight skills and their utilization among the graduates. The population consisted of 1,015 Home Economics graduates in two Geopolitical Zones of Kaduna State.  The sample size of 205 participants was selected through purposive and random sampling procedures. The questionnaire contains Thirty-five (35) items which were divided into four parts, namely, A, B, C and D. The Section was for the demographic characteristics of the respondents, such as gender, age and qualification. Section B contains Ten (10) questions on innovation skills and their utilization, section C contains Ten (10)  questions on creativity skills and their utilization, and the last section D also contains Ten (10) questions on foresight skills and their utilization, while out of the 205 administered questionnaire, only 156 were returned valid. The study employed a survey research design, and the data collected was analyzed using frequency, mean and standard deviation. The results show a general agreement on the positive aspects of knowledge and creativity. It also shows a general and strong agreement that the items related to innovation are viewed positively and there is a consensus of agreement across all items related to foresight skills. Recommendations were formulated according to the research's findings.