Establishing Entrepreneurship Development Centre: Lessons from Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education has been a compulsory and examinable subject at all levels of study in Yaba College since the early 2003. The objectives of the programme are (a) to develop entrepreneurial attitudes in students and (b) to equip the students with relevant knowledge and skills for starting and running their own businesses. This paper recognizes that in designing entrepreneurship policy “one size does not fit all”. It highlights the key implementation steps and methodologies to take into account and suggests policy initiatives and options in the form of recommended actions. Although the national economic and social context and the specific development challenges faced by Yaba College’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) and the country will largely determine the overall approach to entrepreneurship development, CED has identified priority areas for policy focus that have a direct impact on entrepreneurial activity. These are: (1) formulating institutional entrepreneurship education strategy; (2) linkage with the regulatory environment; (3) enhancing entrepreneurship education and skills; (4) facilitating technology exchange and innovation ;(5) improving access to finance; and (6) promoting awareness and networking. This paper offers guidance on the specific issues that require examination and assessment under each area. It identifies selected policy options that will enable organisations and policymakers to begin the strategy formulation process, and it proposes checklists and numerous references in the form of case studies and best practices that provide further guidance on the strategic process and its implementation. This paper concludes with a brief sequential approach to developing entrepreneurship programme. Above all, it is also meant to serve as a useful document to foster policy dialogue on entrepreneurship and to accommodate suggestions and improvements that may result from such dialogue.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship Education, Yaba College, Entrepreneurial Skill, Self-employment, Implementation Strategy, Teaching Entrepreneurship, Mentoring