INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON CAREER INTENTIONS OF STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN CENTRAL ZONE OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of entrepreneurship education on the career intentions of students in tertiary institutions in central zone of Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses. The research design used in this study was descriptive survey. The primary data was generated by means of a structured questionnaire on Likert scale using stratified and random sampling. The population of the study comprised of 3,915 students in tertiary institutions domiciled in the central zone of Plateau State. A sample size of 1,101 from the study population of 3,915 students was used in this investigation. The results showed that while teaching methods and the infrastructure used in entrepreneurship education in tertiary institutions in the central zone of Plateau State had no significant influence on the entrepreneurial career intentions of the students, institution industry synergy had significant influence on their entrepreneurial career intentions. Thestudy recommended, among others, that well-funded or equipped entrepreneurship center should be established and institution-industry synergy be sustained in all the tertiary institutions in the central zone of Plateau state.