AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROLE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In spite of the fact that business education is sometimes referred to as "education for and about business" (Nwosu, 2022), the major objective of this field of study is to train students for positions that pay a salary in the business sector. Whether an individual is seeking paid job or self-employment, the focus should be on gaining exposure to, as well as acquiring, information, skills, and attitudes that are pertinent to and sufficient for employment in certain business vocations. Therefore, the worth of any education in business may be assessed by its capacity to effectively train and equip persons in such a way that upon graduation they would be able to fit into specified occupations or build their own firm.

Education in business may also be described as the kind of education that prepares students for admission into and/or progression in employment within the business sector, as well as education that prepares students to manage the affairs and functions of their own businesses. As citizens and customers in a capitalist system, you should behave intelligently (Popham, 2021). According to Anao (2022), business education may be defined as any educational process or material that has as its major goal the training of individuals for jobs in business enterprises. It is vital to conduct a study of the functions of business education since doing so would make it possible to identify the roles that business education now plays or ought to play in the economy of Nigeria. Students' prior education and experience, professional demands, learning objectives, and personal ambitions are reflected in a few of the primary roles they play in the organization.

(1) It offers adult students career coaching in order to raise their level of understanding about the numerous work options and the changing requirements for entering and advancing in careers.

The objective of a business education is to educate the student for a career in business, whether that be as a business instructor, an office worker, or a collector of knowledge for personal use. Business education is a totally vocational field of study. It is a broad field of study that incorporates a variety of specialized fields such as secretarial studies, accounting, business management, distributive education, computer studies, and marketing. Among other things, it also includes the study of distributive education. One of the educational modalities that results in the development of marketable skills is business education, specifically the kind that places a focus on the acquisition of secretarial abilities. Those who possess the ability to be a secretary will never be at a disadvantage in the job market since it is a talent that will always be in great demand. This is one of the most important aspects of being a secretary. Anao (2022), while discussing the function of business education in a country with a growing economy, described secretarial education as "that educational process or setting which has the task of preparing individuals for entrepreneurship as employed entrepreneurs or employers and or self employed."

In Nigeria, secretarial studies, like many other types of academic programs, got its start in a rather unassuming manner. This may be somewhat attributed to the style and substance of the instruction that was received. This led to the academic snobbery of a programme for the "dropout," which was quickly eradicated after independence, when the country decided to vocationalize education in order to curb the unemployment problems that were being faced at the time. Secretarial training was left mainly in the hands of the "road side" trainers (Onabamiro, 2022). As a consequence of this, secretarial studies, which are an essential component of business education courses, eventually received the attention they deserved within the framework of the conventional educational system. (FRN, 2021)

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The world in particular is becoming more complicated on a daily basis, while at the same time the labor market is becoming more competitive. The economy of Nigeria has not been very promising during the last several years. There has been a significant uptick in the rate of unemployment, which has resulted in an increase in a variety of other crimes, such as robbery, which may now take on a variety of forms in addition to the traditional one of carrying a gun(Onabamiro, 2022). Education in business has the potential to contribute to a healthy and growing economy. The issue that has to be answered is, to what level of Business Education does Nigeria have access? How do the majority of parents feel about their children getting a business education? Another issue is the ambiguity that surrounds the operational definition of business education in relation to Nigeria. Finding answers to these concerns is the focus of this study.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general objective of the study is an investigation into the role of business education in the development of Nigerian economy . specifically, the study will be guided under the following:

1. To examine various ways business education could contribute toward national development.

2. To find out the challenges of Business Education in achieving national development.

3. To investigate how to improve business education in other for the development of Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions have been prepared for the study

1. What are various ways business education could contribute toward national development?

2. What are the challenges of Business Education in achieving national development?

3. How can there be an improvement to business education in other for the development of Nigeria?

1.5   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant to students as they will derive the knowledge that business Education provides them with the needed skills that will make them relevant in the world of work. Parents would also appreciate the subject as a vocation for future benefits of their children.

To the government and society, it will create awareness of government  philosophy of education, that is to foster the worth and development of the individual for each individuals sake and for the general development of the society.

This study will be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The willexamine various ways business education could contributes toward national development. The study will also find out the challenges of Business Education in achieving national development. The study will further investigate how to improve business education in other for the development of Nigeria. Hence this study will be delimited to Cross River State.

1.7    LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Business education: training in subjects (such as business administration, finance) useful in developing general business knowledge

Development: the process of developing or being developed.