The Historical Background of Entrepreneurial Development in Nigeria: Its Gains, Shortcomings and Needful

AbstractThe major purpose of the study is to highlight the origin of entrepreneurship and education development in Nigeria. The paper examines 1908-1947 British administration education antecedents in Nigeria, Blaise Memorial, Industrial School in Abeokuta, Formal Vocational Education in various departmental training schools. The birth of technical institutes, colleges of technology, and university education in Nigeria, with the establishment of entrepreneurial and industrial programe, Such as incubating centres. The study has brought into focus the nature of courses run by the various departmental training schools established by British at the beginning: (i) The Nigerian Railway Training course for selected station staff with 5 years working experience. (ii) The survey course with 2 years in the college for the theory and another 2 years practical at the survey school Oyo for specialist training. (iii) Senior Marine officer (in the Nigerian Marine Vessels) course of 6 years duration, 3 years for theory and another 3 years for practical. and (iv) The 6 years training course (for the Post and Telegraphs Sub-Inspector of lines) were also divided into both the theory and practical training etc. The importance of this study is that it has highlighted those things that have been hitherto neglected along the line of our education and entrepreneurship development. That is, those things that the country should have incorporated into our education curriculum (practice and apprenticeship etc.) rather than the theory (much literary) that the current systems have placed much emphasis on. In conclusion, the gains , shortcomings, accrued to the nation from these developments were discussed in the paper. Suggestions and recommendations made in accordance with the findings and observations from the study.Keywords: antecedent, blaise industrial school, agricultural education.INTRODUCTIONThe present cry for the socio economic development for the country through ensuring both qualitative and quantitative education for the people has been an issue of concern to the citizenry. Perhaps the issue seemed most relevant nowadays is the skills training and entrepreneurship education.With the rapid rate of technological and ICT changes in work places with globalization, there is an increase in the demand for skills as a result of new business practices, new organizational structure, the application of new technologies, and the design, production, and delivery of new products and services. Skill training and entrepreneurship is designed for self-employment, job creation and national development.Entrepreneurship contributes to the development of skilled and semi-skilled manpower for national development as well as self- employment and poverty alleviation. Skilled training and entrepreneurship education makes his products self- employed and employers of labour after graduation.The Federal Republic of Nigeria policy on education of (2004), states that the philosophy and values of education in Nigeria include the followings:- integration of individual into a sound and effective citizen, respect for the work of the individual, faith in man's ability to make rational decisions, moral and spiritual values in interpersonal and human relations, social, cultural, economic, scientific and technological progressThe policy also implies that any programme that will qualify as "education" in Nigeria should not just offer "certificate" alone, must be work- oriented. This will go a long way in solving unemployment and the attendant problems. It will also empower the graduates to become relevant producers of goods and services as well as become sensible consumers of sameEntrepreneurship and skills training incorporates the total learning experiences offered in our educational institutions can not impact knowledge, ideas and abilities to make matured judgment and be in a position to create goods and services in the area of business education, industrial technical education, home economics education, agricultural education etc. …