CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) originated from the Millennium Declaration product by the United Nations. The Declaration asserts that every individual has the right to dignity, freedom, equality, a basis standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence and encourages tolerance and solidarity. The MDGS were made to operationalize these ideas by setting targets and indicators for poverty reduction in order to achieve the right set forth in the declaration on a set fifteen-year timeline. The aim of the MDGS is to encourage development by improving social and economic conditions in the world’s poorest countries. The MDGS call for a global partnership to address the most critical issues of our time (Mfam, 2009). The Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) are eight international development goals that were officially established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nation in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. All 193 United Nations members and at least 23 International Organizations have agreed to achieve these goals by the year 2015. The goals are includes evaluating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality rates, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other disease, ensuring environmental suitability and developing a global partnership for development.

Aremu (2008) observes that, the UN declaration stormed the world with a sort of refreshing atmosphere of hope when world leaders adopted the MDGS which besides embracing most of the objectives, included poverty dimension connected to hunger, water diseases, HIV/AIDS, orphans and urban poverty among others. Each of the goals has specific stated target and dates for achieving those targets. To accelerate progress, the G8 finance ministers agreed in June 2005 to provide enough funds to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the African Development Bank (ADB) to cancel an additional $40 to $55 billion in debt owned by members of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) to allow impoverished countries to re-channel the resources saved from the forgiven debt to social programs for improving health and education and for alleviation poverty.

Business Education can contribute significantly to accomplishment of millennium development goal in Nigeria and ensuring that the young learners have the skills, knowledge, and capabilities to perform their full role in Nigeria in the 21st century. Business Education enables young people to appreciate the interplay between modern society and its supporting economic, financial, and administrative structures by using models, techniques, and technology; and to understand and make informed judgments about aspects of society in local, national, and international contexts.

Business Education through Business Management, Administration and IT, Economics and Accounting makes a significant contribution to preparing young people for work and life through developing skills, including literacy, numeracy, health and well-being, enterprise, financial literacy, global citizenship, communication, problem solving, and Information Communications Technology.

However, Business Education is part of the experiences and outcomes at each stage and every student in Nigeria should be able to engage and develop through the subject. Practitioners and stakeholders involved in Business Education are now keen to ensure that all learners benefit from excellence in learning and teaching.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The major focus of business education is the development of the individual vis-à-vis the society. It is also a major tool for the quick transformation of any nation. The National Policy on Education (2004) has rightly described business education as instrument per excellence. In recognizing this crucial role of business education to human, entrepreneur and social development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS, 2000), have led to a greater attention being paid to advancement in business education. However, business education has contributed to the realization and accomplishment of various objectives in the millennium development goal which includes quality education development, poverty reduction through entrepreneurship development, gender equality and the application of modern information technologies. The researcher is hereby examining the impact of business education on the accomplishment of millennium development goals in Nigeria.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1. To examine the impact of business education on the accomplishment of millennium development goals in Nigeria.
2. To examine the level of realization of the millennium development goals in Nigeria.
3. To identify the factors limiting the accomplishment of the millennium development goals in Nigeria.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the impact of business education on the accomplishment of millennium development goals in Nigeria?
2. What is the level of realization of the millennium development goals in Nigeria?
3. What are the factors limiting the accomplishment of the millennium development goals in Nigeria?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: Business education does not influence millennium development goal

H1: Business education influence millennium development goal

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The outcome of this study will educate students and educators of business education and the general public on the impact of business education on the accomplishment of millennium development goals in Nigeria.
2. This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

1.7   SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study will cover the impact of business education on the accomplishment of millennium development goals in Nigeria.

LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends 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).

 Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.