Exploring E-Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Nigerian Universities Graduates in the Digital Economy: The Missing Link in the National Universities Commission (NUC) Curriculum for Entrepreneurship Education

Dr Emmanuel E. Inyiagu

Abstract: This discourse is born out of a desire to make contribution to the development of entrepreneurship education and start-up in Nigeria. Entrepreneurship is what an entrepreneur does in order to achieve economic, social and political values. Entrepreneurship education equips students with skills and competences, needed to make the best of entrepreneurial opportunities, and ensure entrepreneurial success in a variety of settings. A number of situations call for entrepreneurship education in Nigeria, particularly the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria. The National Universities Commission (NUC) has in collaboration with stakeholders, designed a curriculum for entrepreneurship education at the university level. As at now, it comprises only two General Studies (GST) courses. In this curriculum, there is a missing link. The missing link consists of the absence of reliable data on e-entrepreneurship opportunities and sources for fund for entry into entrepreneurship and survival in the digital economy which should also be used in providing guidance and counseling that will assist graduates in making informed choices of entrepreneurial activities that will demand the best of their strength and their weaknesses. Unless this missing link is taken care of, entrepreneurship education and its practical use in Nigeria will be characterizes by educational and occupational wastage. The paper finally suggested relevant entrepreneurial opportunities and possible sources of funds for entrepreneurship in the digital economy.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship education, Digital economy, National universities commission, Missing link, YUWIN