Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between entrepreneurial education and business growth of youth entrepreneurs has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Borno State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Borno State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on entrepreneurial education, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with business growth of youth entrepreneurs, particularly within Borno State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about entrepreneurial education without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect business growth of youth entrepreneurs. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Entrepreneurial Education on business growth of youth entrepreneurs in Borno State.
2. To assess the extent to which entrepreneurial education influences business growth of youth entrepreneurs within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with entrepreneurial education in relation to business growth of youth entrepreneurs.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing entrepreneurial education in order to improve business growth of youth entrepreneurs.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of entrepreneurial education on business growth of youth entrepreneurs in Borno State?
2. To what extent does entrepreneurial education influence business growth of youth entrepreneurs within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with entrepreneurial education in relation to business growth of youth entrepreneurs?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize entrepreneurial education in order to improve business growth of youth entrepreneurs?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of entrepreneurship, this study has practical value for management teams within Borno State seeking to understand how entrepreneurial education translates into measurable outcomes around business growth of youth entrepreneurs. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Borno State, focusing specifically on how entrepreneurial education relates to business growth of youth entrepreneurs within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.