Entrepreneurship Competencies Required by Business Education Students in Establishing Small Scale Ventures in Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria.

The study examined entrepreneurship competencies required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the managerial competencies, risk taking propensity competencies and problem solving ability competencies required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures. The study adopted a survey research design. A sample size of one hundred and thirty five (135) small scale ventures owners were randomly selected from Ikom Local Government Area. A structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection which was analyzed and hypotheses were tested using independent t-test. The findings from the analysis and the test of hypotheses show that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of male and female business owners on the managerial competencies required by business education students, in establishing small scale ventures. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of male and female business owners on the risks taking propensity competencies required by business education students. in establishing small scale ventures. Lastly, the study revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of male and female business owners on the problem solving ability competencies required by business education students in establishing small scale ventures. The study concluded that entrepreneurship competencies required for small scale ventures are not inherently gender-specific, and that both male and female business owners are equally capable of succeeding in entrepreneurship. The study therefore recommended among others that business education students including students in Ikom Local Government Area should focus on developing managerial competencies in area of leadership, communication, decision-making, and strategic planning.