Business Plan Development Skills Among Business Education Graduates Seeking Enterprise Funding in Kebbi State

This study assessed the business plan development skills of Business Education graduates seeking enterprise funding in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A well-structured business plan is a prerequisite for accessing funding from microfinance institutions, government enterprise schemes, and angel investors. For Business Education graduates, who are expected to possess strong business planning competencies, weaknesses in this area can be a major barrier to entrepreneurial success. This study sought to diagnose the competency levels of graduates navigating enterprise funding in Kebbi State. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 180 Business Education graduates who had applied for enterprise funding through government or financial institution schemes in Kebbi State within the last two years. Using purposive sampling, 90 graduates were selected. A validated Business Plan Competency Assessment Instrument and a document review of submitted business plan samples were used for data collection. Mean, standard deviation, and content analysis were employed for analysis. Findings reveal significant weaknesses in financial projection development, market analysis, and competitive strategy articulation. Many graduates produced business plans that were structurally incomplete and failed to satisfy basic lender requirements. The study recommends that Business Education departments and the Kebbi State Enterprise Development Agency should co-develop a practical business plan development workshop series, and that simulation-based business planning should be embedded as a capstone activity in Business Education programmes. Keywords: business plan development, enterprise funding, business education graduates, Kebbi State, entrepreneurship