ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN SELECTED STATES IN SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA

The study aimed at investigating entrepreneurship education and youth empowerment in selected states in south-east Nigeria. Relevant literature on entrepreneurship education and youth empowerment were reviewed. The human capital theory formed the theoretical framework while the cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. The sample size for this research was 400. Simple percentage was used in analyzing the research questions while the Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) method was used in testing the hypotheses. The study revealed that skill acquisition has a significant effect on youth empowerment. Innovation and Opportunity recognition significantly influence youth empowerment. The study concluded that entrepreneurship education creates employment among the youth thereby boosting their self-teem. Skills are acquired in recognizing business opportunities and inculcating innovative culture, which contribute to the development of the economy. The study recommended that the government should provide enough training facilities where skill acquisition programmes will be held. The youth should be granted credit facilities and loans to enable them put their creative ideas into practice.