Prof. KOKO, M. N. & ONI, Faith Jeminat
Skill Acquisition in Business Education for Combating Unemployment in Rivers State
Abstract
Unemployment has become an issue of major concern in different countries of the world. Developing nations as ours continue to face the isuues of rising unemployment levels. However, critical stakeholders are looking into possible meaning of combating this issue of unemployment. This paper examined how skill acquisition in the business education programme is aimed at combating unemployment. This study discussed the concept of unemployment, business education and skill acquisition. It also highlighted the types of employment, roles of business education in creating job opportunities, importance of skill acquisition and factors responsible for the rising unemployment rate in Nigeria. The problem of unemployment can be combated through skill acquisition especially via business education. Skill acquisition is the systematic and sequential development of skills that promotes efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of a specific job. It was concluded that in order to combat unemployment, there is need for students of business education to be acquainted with the various skills in the business education programme. Also, unemployed youths are encouraged to undergo training in other vocational areas for them to acquire the skills that will enable them to be self-employed and government should devise means of tackling all the factors responsible for the rising unemployment in the country. Amongst other suggestions is that adequate funding should be provided by school authorities to build and equip skill acquisition center in Rivers State; qualified lecturers with adequate knowledge with various skills should be employed into the department of Business Education to teach Business Education practical skills; Business Education curriculum should accommodate practical skills; Business Education lecturers should be trained and retrained to acquire more skills of teaching Business Education; Business Education students should be willing to cultivate keen interest in acquiring the skills and competencies in the Business Education programme and that students should be committed and dedicated to the practical contents of business education programme.
Keywords: Skill Acquisition, Business Education and Unemployment.
