Abstract
Abstract
The study examined Information and Communication technology skills required of UpataYouth graduates for effective entrepreneurship practice in Rivers State. The design of the study was descriptive survey. The population of the study was 398 managers of small scale and medium enterprises out of which a sample of 199 was used. Four research questions guided the study and four null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The internal consistency of the instrument was established using Crombach alpha and coefficients of 0.80, 0.76, 0.82 and 0.78 were obtained from the sections. Mean ratings and standard deviation were used to analyze data related to research questions, while t-test inferential statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that communication, technology, managerial, organization and ICT skills were required by Upata Youths Graduate for effective entrepreneurship practice. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government should make adequate provision of ICT equipment in institutions of higher learning for effective teaching and learning. Also business enterprises should partner with training institutions for effective training of students on entrepreneurship development and practice.
KEYWORDS: Information and Communication Technology, Entrepreneurship Practice, small and medium scale business.