Role of Business Education in Poverty Reduction Among Youths in Nasarawa State

This study investigated the role of Business Education in poverty reduction among youths in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. Youth poverty remains a significant developmental challenge in Nigeria, driven by high unemployment rates and limited access to income-generating opportunities. Business Education, through its emphasis on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and vocational skills development, has the potential to be a powerful instrument for economic empowerment. Nasarawa State, with a predominantly rural population and high youth unemployment rate, represents a context where entrepreneurship education could have significant developmental impact if delivered effectively. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 400 youth aged 18 to 30 who had received at least some Business Education training through secondary or tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State. A sample of 200 youths was selected using multistage sampling. A validated questionnaire on Business Education experiences and economic outcomes was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were employed for analysis. Findings indicate a moderate positive correlation between the level of Business Education received and youths ability to establish income-generating ventures. Entrepreneurship training and financial management skills were identified as the strongest contributors to economic self-sufficiency. The study recommends that Nasarawa State Government should scale up Business Education delivery through community vocational centers and evening school programmes targeting youth in rural and underserved areas. Keywords: business education, poverty reduction, youth empowerment, Nasarawa State, entrepreneurship