Expansions in educational facilities and the inability of the Nigerian economy to expand as fast as the growth in population have created an unacceptable level of unemployment. Consequently, the products of the educational system have continued to stay much longer at home in idleness, which makes them ready tools for agents of mischief. If they are able, on graduation, to undertake some viable business enterprises, they will eventually become self-sufficient and possibly emerge as employers of labour instead of setting their vision on paid employment, which is increasingly difficult to obtain. It is, therefore, important that University students be exposed to the culture of business development and management so that they can respond to the challenges of self-employment after graduation.
Experiences in Israel, India, Pakistan, Brazil, China and other developing economies as well as Japan show that a country benefits tremendously from the promotion of small and medium-size enterprises, which are often suitable for young school leavers. Thus, the promotion of entrepreneurial competences is designed to prepare graduates of the University of Benin for a future life of creative productivity and independence.

Specific Objectives

• To provide an enabling environment for the growth and sustenance of the entrepreneurship development programme.
•  To encourage the commercialisation of innovations and inventions as well as the growth and development of enterprises
• To promote a greater sensitivity to business opportunities whenever they occur.