Title:
IDENTIFYING ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR PROMOTION OF AGRICUITURAL EXTENSION EDUCATION IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA.

Authors:
Nnadi, F.N., Chikaire, J.U., Ani,A.O., Echetama, J.A.

Abstract:
The study aimed at identifying the entrepreneurial activities, skills and abilities available for promoting Agricultural Extension in South- East Nigeria. Data were collected from 250 Agricultural extension education students in five (5) institutions of higher learning in South-East Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents and data were analysed using descriptive tools such as percentages, mean and standard deviation. Results showed that numerous opportunities exist in extension education entrepreneurial course. Such opportunities included crop production (100%), fish rearing (96.4%), poultry production (100%), film making, photography, agro- processing among other. Skills needed in extension entrepreneurial activities included communication skill with mean of 2.66, decision-making (M=2.60), ability to teach (M= 2.35), write scripts (M=2.30) among others. Qualities such as flexibility, creativity, ability to learn, problem solving are needed to build strong entreprise. Also, training and education, facilitating link, advisory services were among the roles extension play for entrepreneurship development. It was recommended that extension pre-service training curriculum be reviewed to provide for an all inclusive development in activities, skills and abilities of the graduates as well as de-emphasizing public sector employment on graduation among prospective graduates in the cause of their programme.