Abstract

Purpose: Global economic instability, rising unemployment, and the declining capacity of formal wage employment have intensified the search for sustainable pathways to economic growth and resilience. In developing economies such as Nigeria, these challenges are further compounded by youth unemployment, economic vulnerability, and limited industrial diversification. Consequently, entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical mechanism for innovation, job creation, and economic empowerment. Despite the inclusion of entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities, its implementation has often remained largely theoretical, limiting its effectiveness in translating knowledge into practical skills and employability.

Method: This study examines entrepreneurship as the engine room of the global economy, using Clifford University as a case study. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining primary data from surveys of students participating in entrepreneurship skill clusters with secondary data from institutional records and relevant Nigerian literature. The analysis focuses on changes in student participation, skill acquisition, and entrepreneurial intention following the University’s transition from theory-based entrepreneurship education to a practical, production-oriented model inaugurated in April 2024.

Findings: Findings indicate a significant increase in student participation, improved practical skills across multiple production areas, and heightened entrepreneurial intention and perceived employability among students. The study concludes that practical, institution-based entrepreneurship education can serve as an effective model for addressing youth unemployment and strengthening economic resilience. It recommends the replication and scaling of such models across Nigerian universities to position entrepreneurship as a strategic driver of sustainable economic development.