Examining the Nexus Between Business Education and Sustainable Development Goals Achievement in Northern Nigeria

This study examined the nexus between Business Education outcomes and the achievement of selected Sustainable Development Goals in Northern Nigeria, with particular focus on SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The SDGs provide a global framework for evaluating the developmental impact of education, and Business Education, with its focus on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and professional development, is uniquely positioned to contribute to multiple goals simultaneously. This study fills a gap in the empirical literature connecting Business Education to SDG metrics in the Nigerian Northern context. A mixed-methods design was adopted, combining a survey of 300 Business Education stakeholders, including students, graduates, and employers, across Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, Bauchi, and Sokoto States, with a document analysis of SDG progress reports for these states. Quantitative data were analyzed using multiple regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that entrepreneurship skills acquisition from Business Education programmes significantly predicts youth employment and income improvement outcomes aligned with SDG 8, while equitable access to quality Business Education remains a challenge for SDG 4 and SDG 10 targets. Gender and geographic disparities in programme access were identified as structural barriers to SDG progress. The study recommends that Northern Nigerian governments should co-design Business Education access expansion strategies with the SDG implementation monitoring framework. Keywords: Business Education, Sustainable Development Goals, Northern Nigeria, SDG 8, SDG 4