Risk Society as a Framework for Exploring Entrepreneurship Education in Nigeria

This chapter examines how individuals navigate turbulent environment devoid of institutional and entrepreneurial architectures vital to support high-growth entrepreneurship using the prisms of risk society framework. Although, Nigeria has dynamic education policy to ensure access to basic education and development. A number of recent studies have found that lack of access to ‘free’ basic education makes a large number of individuals vulnerable to societal harms which further impoverish them. Therefore, we demonstrate how the notion of risk society is driving entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Research suggests that unemployment and poverty situations in Nigeria is made worse by the adverse effect of weak institutions, endemic corruption, bad governance and the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Collectively, these factors contribute to the weak entrepreneurial ecosystems, institutional voids and poor entrepreneurial architectures vital to support entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Our review of existing studies found that low skills limit opportunities for employment in the formal economy and that government social programmes intended to address problems of poverty and unemployment are ineffective. Therefore, we present some emerging ideas and thinking about entrepreneurship education at basic educational level to ensure inclusive entrepreneurial opportunities in Nigeria. In practical context, we consider entrepreneurship education as an effective tool to bridge the gaps and challenges of risk society and connect them to sustainable enterprise solutions. In conclusion, we reflect on the implications of the Nigerian government approach to entrepreneurship education.