ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN ENUGU STATE

Abstract

The study evaluated the relationship between Entrepreneurship education and Performance of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Enugu State. The specific objectives were to: Examine the relationship between training workshops and problem solving skills; evaluate the relationship between mentorship and reduction of unemployment and ascertain the relationship between opportunity evaluation and the number of business start-ups by SMEs in Enugu State. The area of the study comprised staff SMEs in Enugu State metropolis. The study used the descriptive survey design approach. A total population of three hundred and twenty (320), staff was used. The whole population was used due to small size.. Two hundred and eighty two (282) staff returned the questionnaire accurately filled. Data were presented and analyzed by mean score and standard deviation using Sprint Likert Scale. The hypotheses were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r) statistical tool. The findings indicated that training workshops had direct positive relationship with problem solving skills, r (95, n = 282) = .484 <.782, p < 0.05.; mentorship had direct positive relationship with the reduction of unemployment r (95, n = 282) = .511 <.730, p < 0.05. and opportunity evaluation had direct positive relationship with the number of business startups by SMEs in Enugu State, Nigeria r (95, n = 282) = .515 <.760, p < 0.05. The study concluded that training workshops, mentorship and opportunity evaluation had significant positive relationship with problem solving skills, number of business start-ups and reduction of unemployment of SMEs in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study recommended among others that the management of Small and medium enterprises should frequently send their staff on training to empower them for organizational duties for the retention of small and medium scale enterprised members in Nigeria.