Title: Entrepreneurship Development Programs as a Catalyst for Job Creation: Evaluating Business Training Initiatives in Nigeria
Authors: Tobi Solomon & Agbavwe O. Emmanuel
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Pages: 43-51
Publication Date: 2025/05/28
Abstract:
This study evaluates the role of EDPs in reducing unemployment through a business administration lens, focusing on three objectives: assessing program effectiveness, identifying systemic barriers, and proposing reforms. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was employed, combining quantitative surveys of 1,200 EDP participants across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones with qualitative interviews of 30 stakeholders (policymakers, trainers, and entrepreneurs). Quantitative analysis revealed mixed outcomes: only 29% of ventures survived beyond three years, with an average of 1.2 jobs created per enterprise, while qualitative data highlighted gender disparities (40% female participation), infrastructural deficits (63% rural power shortages), and cultural stigma against business failure. The study identifies curriculum misalignment with market needs and fragmented policy coordination as critical limitations. Recommendations include sector-specific training modules in renewable energy and fintech, gender-responsive reforms (e.g., collateral alternatives for women), and public-private partnerships to address infrastructural gaps. The integration of lean startup methodologies in a pilot program boosted business survival rates by 45%, underscoring the value of adaptive, iterative training. This research contributes actionable strategies for aligning EDPs with Nigeria's socioeconomic realities, emphasizing stakeholder collaboration and digital literacy to harness the nation's demographic dividend. Policymakers must prioritize monitoring frameworks to track long-term job quality and inclusivity.