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DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS IN FURNITURE MAKING OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE GRADUATES TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC STABILITY IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM KOGI STATENuffi Jonathan OjoABSTRACT
Furniture making trade is among the woodwork technology programs offered in technical colleges in Nigeria. Furniture making programmer requires that the trainees acquired knowledge and skills in order to enable them produce different types of furniture items thereby enhancing their economic stability and that of the nation. The study was designed to develop entrepreneurship skills in furniture-making for improvement of technical college graduates. The sample for this study comprised 132 entrepreneurs and 16 furniture-making instructors; giving a total of 148 respondents randomly selected in Kogi State. The instrument for data collection was the structured questionnaire. Each item in the instrument was assigned a five point scale and the response options of Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4, Undecided = 3, Disagree = 2, and Strongly Disagree = 1 respectively. The questionnaire was validated by lecturers, entrepreneurs and a technical college instructor. Cornbrash Alpha method was used to ascertain reliability coefficient value of 0.71 for the instrument. The data collected were analyzed using Mean (x) score analysis from five-point Liker scale to answer the research questions. The result of the findings revealed that, suitable objectives of entrepreneurship skill to be included in the training, among others are: simple business plan, determine competing industries in furniture making. Six skill areas for inclusion in entrepreneurship skills training in furniture making include among others: technical skills, business planning skills, financial management skills, management skills. Facilities needed for teaching and learning include: percussion and impelling tools, machine power tools, computers, etc. The following recommendations among others were proffered: governments should fund technical education adequately; technical education curriculum should include the identified entrepreneurship skills into technical college curriculum; and technical college administrators should organize seminars and workshops on entrepreneurial skills acquisition for technical teachers.
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