Scaling-up Interventions Forentrepreneurship In Nigeria: A Panacea For Robusteconomic Growth

Abstract

Nigeria, after sixty-three years of political independence, is regrettably still grappling to find solutions to her socio-economic under-development. A lot of factors have been adjudged as being responsible, chief among them is the lack of robust entrepreneurship development programmes in the country. As the saying goes that no country's education system can rise above the level of the teachers, similarly, no nation can develop socio-economically above the level of the entrepreneurial behaviour of her citizens and their institutions' effectiveness. Undoubtedly, entrepreneurship holds the key to the development and growth of Nigeria's economy, moreso, as the nation is witnessing a disturbing increasing population rate without a corresponding increase in her gross domestic product (GDP). Hence, this researcher believes that there is a very strong, need now than ever for government at all levels to scale up meaningful and sustained interventions in several areas, to increase the supply of entrepreneurs in Nigeria for a robust economic growth. The paper therefore, suggests among others, the establishment of Entrepreneurship Trust Fund (Entre-Fund), equivalent of Tetfund, for training, development and financial empowerment of serious Nigerian entrepreneurs engaged in industrial ventures along with clear entrepreneurship policy direction and relevant infrastructure to arouse entrepreneurship spirit among Nigerians.