ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS ACQUISITION OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

In a developing economy like Nigeria, graduate unemployment has reached an alarming proportion as a result of insufficient jobs to absorb graduates that are mass-produced every year. The mass unemployment situation has led to series of odd vices like armed robbery, human trafficking, drug addiction, youth restiveness, poor standard of living, kidnapping and assassinations all over in Nigeria. This state of affairs has resulted in instability and insecurity in Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria, concerned over the spate of unemployment among the teeming graduates of Nigerian universities introduced entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities since 2007 to equip the students with entrepreneurial skills that will make them self-reliant and employers of labour rather than job seekers. This paper intends to describe the events that led to the rising level of unemployment among graduates in Nigeria, and identify federal government efforts to tackle unemployment. In addition, it will discuss entrepreneurial skills and competencies available for graduates of Library and Information Science to acquire to create jobs and allied economically – viable businesses. Using relevant literature, the paper will discuss the challenges threatening the sustainability of entrepreneurial skills acquisition among students of Library and information Science. It will conclude by recommending actions that need to be taken to alleviate the challenges.