ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES REQUIRED BY NCE TECHNICAL ELECTRICALELECTRONICS GRADUATES FOR ESTABLISHING SMALL SCALE BUSINESS IN PLATEAU STATE

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine entrepreneurial competencies required by NCE Technical Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small scale business in Plateau state. To achieve this objective, four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. This figure was made up of 17 Electrical/Electronics lecturers in the two tertiary institutions offering NCE Technical in Plateau state and 74 registered Electrical/Electronics crasftmen of small scale business in Plateau state. The entire population was used for the study due to its manageable size. A 63- item questionnaire was the instrument developed by the researcher and used to collect the required data for the study. The instrument was validated by three expects and tested fore reliability using Cronbach’s alpha method. The data collected from the respondents were analyzed using mean and t-test statistic. Some major findings of the study were that seventeen out of eighteen managerial competencies for establishing small scale business (SSB) in plateau state, nineteen out of the twenty personality competencies for SSB thirteen financial and accounting competencies for establishing SSB, eleven marketing competencies were required for the establishment of SSB. The results of the study also showed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of Electrical/Electronics E/E lecturers and entrepreneurs of SSB on the managerial competencies required by E/E? NCE graduates for small-scale enterprises on items 1-16. The results also showed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of E/E/ lecturers and the entrepreneurs of Small Scale Business SSB on the personality competencies.  No significant difference in the mean responses of E/E lecturers and entrepreneurs of SSB on the accounting and financial competencies. No significant difference in the mean responses of E/E lecturers and the entrepreneurs of SSB on the marketing competencies. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made among which are National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) or various colleges of education and polytechnics should organize seminar and worshops for E/E lecturers on entrepreneurial competencies required by E/E NCE graduates for establishing SSB in Plateau state. Already employed E/E lecturers should be re-trained or sent for further study and entrepreneurial competencies for effective teaching and learning.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

One of the economic and social ills that has bedeviled the whole world today is poverty. The global concern and aspiration are on how to keep the teaming population throughout the world above poverty level. In view of the above, the United Nation has held numerous conferences in the past few decades to discuss the way forward. The result of these conferences gave birth to the most recent United Nation’s Millennium declaration signed in September, 2006, known as the Millennium Development Goals in which one of its objectives is  to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Extreme poverty and hunger according to the World Bank is living on one

US dollar or less per day. In Nigeria, the National Planning Commission (NPC)

2009 estimated that about seven out of every ten Nigerians lived on less than one

US dollar per day.

In Nigeria, as well as in most developing nations, it has been observed that poverty challenges are attributed to limited saleable skills, low income, underemployment and unemployment, among others. Ifedo (1982), agrees that one of the main causes of unemployment is greatly attributed to lack of trained and

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employable skills. Similarly, Uzoagulu (2011) asserted that many unemployed do not possess the necessary skills and competencies which modern economy demands. Some of the areas of specialization for NCE Technical which demands the graduates to possess necessary skills and competencies include; Building technology/woodwork technology, metal work technology/automobile technology, and Electrical/Electronics technology.

Electrical/Electronics technology is one of the programmes in colleges of education, and polytechnics. The programme is designed to last for three years either in Colleges of Education or  Department of Technical Education of the polytechnics.  The  minimum entry  requirement  into  Colleges  of  Education  or Polytechnic is five credits including mathematics and English National Policy on Education (2004).

The range of courses in the technical colleges cover areas in all technical trades such as wood/building, automobile/metal work, electrical/electronics. Those that successfully completed the course with option in Electrical/Electronics are called NCE (Tech) Electrical/Electronics graduates.

Electrical/Electronics (E/E) programme provides economic and skills enterprises through which graduates can earn income and employ others. Electrical/Electronics occupies a vital position in income generations because of its

multiple areas of specialization like: house wiring, machine installation, electro- plating  jobs,  rewinding of  electrical appliances, drawing and  interpretation of electrical wiring plan businesses. An enterprise in the view of Dabson and Malkin (2003) is an organization with partially overlapping objectives working together with the rules and regulations guiding them for some period of time in order to achieve the stated objectives.

Entrepreneurship in Electrical/Electronics is a veritable tool in socio- economic and industrial development and in fact as a means of self-actualization for the graduates concerned. The term entrepreneurship according to Ogbuanya (2003) is a programme that prepares individuals to undertake the function of small business enterprise which also  includes financial operation for the purpose of performing all businesses relating to a products. Ogbuanya further stressed that entrepreneurial training as enshrined in the curriculum of Technical Vocational Education is a specialized training for vocational and technical graduates to acquire skills, ideas, and managerial abilities in order to set up their business and become self-employed and be able to employ others. Hisrich, Peters and Shepherd (2008) noticed that entrepreneurial training involves the establishment of mechanisms that identify potential opportunities and describing the extent to which entrepreneurs are dynamic,  flexible, self-regulating and engage in the  process of  generating multiple decision framework which would focus on generating changes in the

environments. Timmons and Spinelli (2004) see entrepreneurship as a way of thinking, reasoning, and acting that is opportunity-based, holistic in approach and leadership balanced. Entrepreneurship, therefore involves innovation which can be thought of as a process of change comprising identification, evaluation and exploration of an opportunity, management and creation of  value through the successful exploration of a new idea by an entrepreneur.

An entrepreneur according to Hisrich and Peters in Anyakoha (2009) is a businessman who appears as  a  threat,  may be  an ally,  a  source of supply, a customer or someone who creates wealth for others, as well as finds better way to utilize resources, reduce waste or  produce jobs  which others are  glad  to  get. Anyakoha further stressed that an entrepreneur is a factor in fostering economic growth. An entrepreneur owns and runs a small business which he/she can call his or her own. Anyakoha (2009) stated that whether such business succeeds or fails will depend on the ability of the entrepreneur to effectively use his/her positive qualities and retrain his/her negative characteristics. Some of the positive characteristics of an entrepreneur according to Anyakoha are: self-confidence, risk taking, leadership, Result oriented, drive and energy, creativity, taking initiatives, delegates authority, gives feedback, good planner and organizer, loyal  supportive and competent.

Competency is the ability of a person to perform jobs properly. It is a set of defined behaviours that  provides a  structure  guide enabling the  identification, evaluation and development of the behaviours in individual student (Timmons and Spinelli, 2004).  Competency is a quality or state of being functionally adequate or having sufficient knowledge, judgment, skills or strength (As for a particular duty or in a particular respect). Kruegen (2008) stated that competencies for entrepreneurial success are many and varied, however, the most regular include: integrity, conceptual thinking, risk taking, net-working, strategic thinking, commercial aptitude, decisiveness, optimism, customer sensitively, people focus and others.   Competency comprises knowledge, skills, novelty and experience needed to perform a particular job or series of jobs.

Entrepreneurial competencies according to Hisrich and Peters (2002), for establishing small scale enterprises include mainly managerial, technical, financial/marketing and general competencies. Anyakoha (2009) noted that with the acquisition of competency, individuals can be engaged in self-employment and other useful projects, thus reducing the present high rate of un-employment. Anyakoha further stated that acquisition of the necessary competencies is a must for entry into the world of work, most especially the managerial Competencies.

Management is the art of getting things done through people; it is a process of  achieving  an  organization’s  goal  through  coordinated  performance  of  five

specific functions namely: planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling (Osuala, 2011).  Alio (2006) stated that for prospective entrepreneurs in small business to be successful, the following managerial competencies are expected: regular inspections of tools, sensitivity to feelings of others, planning ahead of schedule of programme, ability to produce demanded items before collection date, evaluation of personal skills, communicate effectively, set goals for the organization, and should have an in-depth knowledge of the chosen career. According to  Okorie  (2000)  an  important  issue  of  workforce development in Nigeria is to ensure that human resources are developed to such an extent that the achievement of desired rate of technological change will not be impeded through lack of personnel with suitable  managerial skill and competencies. He  further stated that lack of managerial competencies by these graduates has resulted to a situation whereby most of the graduates hope solely on paid employment which is not forth coming.

Chell (1999) discussed ‘Big five’ attributes associated with entrepreneurial behaviour as: innovative, determined, external focus and the team leader. Also Ezeji (1993) outlined the  following the  personal attributes of an entrepreneur; punctuality to work, initiative of a good work judgment, cooperation and dependability, respect of the  rights of other workers, and resourcefulness and

attention to detail. Acquisition of the necessary competencies is a must for entry into the world of work, especially the technical competencies.

Technical competency as stated by Edward (2007) is the ability of Electrical/Electronics graduates to listen, see, interpret Electrical/Electronics drawings and also have financial competencies. Dapson and Malkin (2003) explained that financial competencies involve identifying, procuring, allocating and evaluating financial resources as they relate to expenditures made on capital and recurrent expenditures. Hisrich and Peters (2002) outlined some financial/marketing competencies required of entrepreneurs to include: ability to determine selling price, advertising products, sales promotion, proper and prudent money management, keep proper records of all transactions, identification of target market and customer, identify channel of distribution and above all be aggressive towards profit making Hisrich and Peters further stated that marketing competencies are critical to any entrepreneurs continued success.

Small scale business enterprise according to United Nations Organization (2000) is that enterprise with a minimum of five and maximum of 100 employees. The World Bank in 1988 classified small scale business as an enterprise whose total fixed assets, excluding land plus working capital does not exceed Ten million N10,000.00 (Ihymembe,   in Anyakoha (2009). Osuala (2004) refers to a small scale business as any business that is owned, managed and controlled by a sole

proprietor and partners of about two persons has a total assets of less than four million naira N4, 000,000.00  and does not have more than fifty employees. Small business in the context of this study includes sales and services that concerns electrical and  electronic  gadgets,  equipment, components and  part  as  well  as installations and repair of house wiring, satellite dish installations, assembling and repairs of generators, computers, transistor radios, television sets mobile handsets, calculators, rechargeable cells,  and  others with  minimum assets base  between

50,000 and 100,000 Naira, excluding land and working capital with a minimum of five and maximum of fifty number of employee. For an enterprise to be established and managed successfully, it must be done by competent graduates of NCE technical from polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

Polytechnics and Colleges of Education according to Okoro (2006) are the major  institutions  that  absorb  the  graduates  of  technical  colleges  for  further training as technicians and NCE graduates in various trades such as electrical/electronics. One of the primary goals is to give training and impart the necessary   skills   to   individuals   who   shall   be   self-reliant   economically. Unfortunately many electrical/electronic graduates who are supposed to posses electrical/electronic skills in Nigeria remain unemployed, because they lack the required competencies. Edward (2007) noted that some Electrical/Electronics graduates join the world of unemployment because they lack adequate saleable

competencies for entrepreneurship. He further stated that this will reduce their marketability and competitiveness in the labour market.

It is in the light of these that the study intends to determine the entrepreneurial competencies  required  by  NCE  technical  Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small business in plateau state.

Statement of the Problem

For some years now, one of the dominant social problems in Nigeria has been unemployment. This unemployment has been attributed to lack of skills and competencies required in the world of work. One of the primary goal of technical education is to give training and impart the necessary skills to individuals who shall be self-reliant economically. Ogwo (2004) noted that lack of entrepreneurial competencies has resulted in failure of most enterprises set up by technical education graduates. Olabiyi, Keshino, Oluwa and Bashorun (2009) also noted that lack  of  entrepreneurial  competencies  by  technical  education  graduates  have resulted to a situation whereby most of the graduates hope solely on paid employment which is not forthcoming. Consequently, the incidence of unemployment among NCE graduates of Electrical/Electronics has continued to be at an alarming rate. The  options available to these graduates as stated in the National Policy on Education among others are as follows:

i.        Provide trained manpower in the applied sciences, technology and business particularly at craft and technical levels

ii.       Provide  the  technical  knowledge  and  vocational  skills  necessary  for agricultural, commercial and economic development;

iii.      Give training and impart the necessary skills to individual who shall be self- reliant economically (FGN, 2004).

These goals with respect to electrical/electronics can be achieved through acquisition  of  relevant  entrepreneurial  skills  (Aina,  2009).  Olaitan  (1996), observed that in Nigeria today graduates of technical colleges and other vocational technical institutions are  found  in the streets of towns and cities  unemployed because their training is inadequate and irrelevant to    industries and societies.

Despite the importance of producing skilled and competent personnel for economic and technological advancement, establishment of electrical/electronics small businesses in Plateau State appear not to have been impressive. Due to lack of entrepreneurial competencies by NCE E/E graduates, their skillfulness, efficiency, proficiency and productivity are impeded. Thus, unemployment is on the increase. The problem that this study intended to tackle therefore is NCE E/E graduates’  lack of  entrepreneurial competencies to  set  up  small businesses in Plateau State.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to determine the entrepreneurial competencies required by Electrical/Electronics NCE graduate for establishing small scale business in Plateau State. Specifically, the study intends to determine the:

i.   Managerial competencies required by NCE Technical Electrical/Electronics graduates for the establishment of small scale enterprises.

ii. Personality competencies required by NCE Technical Electrical/Electronics graduates for the establishment of small scale enterprises.

iii. Accounting   and   financial   competencies   required   by   NCE   Technical

Electrical/Electronics graduates for the establishment of small scale enterprises.

iv. Marketing competencies required by NCE Technical Electrical/Electronics graduates for the establishment of small scale enterprises.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will benefit National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Federal and State Ministries of Education, Electrical/Electronics industries, curriculum planners in Technical Education, teachers, students and researchers. Also as a quality control body, NCCE could use the findings to incorporate suitable programmes/modules that can enhance entrepreneurial competencies of E/E NCE graduates to enable them to establish small scale enterprises.

The findings from the study could readily be used by the Federal Ministry of Education and Plateau State Ministry of Education in particular, as a guide on the type of directives required to be given to skill acquisition centres administrators for the training of the unemployed youths for jobs in Electrical/Electronics enterprises. The  findings  could  be  useful  to  the  ministry  as  a  reference  material  during refresher courses for the teachers of E/E.

The findings of the study will be of importance to Parents and the society because it will serve as reference materials to parents on how to guide and encourage their wards towards attainment of those competencies, and the society as they stand to benefit from the competent services rendered by the E/E NCE graduates.

The findings of the study will be of immense benefit to the teachers and students of E/E because, it will serve as a reference material to the teachers and NCE graduates on the competencies they would require for teaching E/E concepts and the entrepreneurial competencies needed for establishing E/E enterprise respectively. Lastly, the  findings could also serve as a source of reference to researchers who will be filling the gap this study could not fill.

Furthermore, the study will enable curriculum experts and educational planners both at Federal and State levels in such a way that it includes subjects and activities that will help ameliorate entrepreneurial competencies.

The findings of the study will enable the managers of Electrical/Electronics enterprises to provide codes of practice and rules for recruitment into the industry. For example all applicants seeking jobs in Electrical/Electronics industries must possess entrepreneurial competencies. It will also encourage cooperation between Electrical/Electronics industries and institutions in training. For instance, Industrial Training Fund (ITF) shall organize staff and students industrial attachment as appropriate and in collaboration with the proprietors, institutions and industries.

Research Questions

The study seeks to answer the following research questions:

i.   What   are   the   managerial   competencies   required   by   NCE   (Technical) Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small scale enterprise?

ii. What   are   the   personality   competencies   required   by   NCE   (Technical) Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small scale enterprise?

iii. What are the Accounting financial competencies required by NCE (Technical) Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small scale enterprise?

iv. What   are   the   marketing   competencies   required   by   NCE   (Technical) Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small scale enterprise?

Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses are formulated to guide the study and will be tested at 0.05 level of significance

Ho1: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of lecturers of Electrical/Electronics and owners of small scale enterprises on managerial competencies of Electrical/Electronics NCE graduates for establishing small scale enterprise.

Ho2: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of lecturers of Electrical/Electronics and owners of small scale enterprises on personality competencies of Electrical/Electronics NCE graduates for establishing small scale enterprise.

Ho3: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of lecturers of Electrical/Electronics and owners of small scale enterprises on Accounting and financial competencies of Electrical/Electronics NCE graduates for establishing small scale enterprise.

Ho4: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of lecturers of

Electrical/Electronics and owners of small scale enterprises on marketing

competencies of Electrical/Electronics NCE graduates for establishing small scale enterprise.

Delimitation

Entrepreneurial competencies are very wide as a result of that, the study is delimited to only four aspects of entrepreneurial competencies required by NCE(Technical) Electrical/Electronics graduates for establishing small scale business  in  Plateau  State  namely:  managerial,  personality,  accounting  and financial, and marketing competencies. The study will involve lecturers of Electrical/Electronics in the two institutions offering NCE (Technical) Electrical/Electronics and some owners of small scale enterprises in Plateau State.

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