WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH FUNCTIONAL EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA

The aim of this paper was to identify the strategies that will be effective in empowering women through the provision of entrepreneurship education and training. In spite of the tremendous role women play in the society, their educational neglect has made it difficult for them to realize their potentials. This paper subscribes to the view that the provision of appropriate entrepreneurship education and training will enhance the women ’s earning power and improve the family welfare. Three research questions were formulated for the study. 240 women who are participating in Adult Basic Education (ABE) Programmes in Nasarawa State were sampled from Lafia metropolis Ahvanga and keffi for investigation. Utilizing the focused group discussion technique, the subjects through the semistructuredquestionnaire, indicated their demographic characteristics, perception of the ABE programme and their preferred entrepreneurial skills. Using frequencies and percentages, majority of the women are young, single, unemployed and had dropped out of school. They perceived the current ABE curriculum as indicative. Majority of them desired training in Home management, Clothing and Textile skills. Many of these who are in the rural areas prefer training in Agricultural production to other vocation