Exploring Electronic Commerce Technology by Business Education Graduates for Employment Opportunities and Self-Reliance in Nigeria
AUTHORS
Jossica Isioma Obimgbo,Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Friday Ekahe Abanyam*,Department of Business Education, Faculty of Education, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
Robinson Osarumwense Owenvbiugie,Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Nigerian tertiary institutions chum out thousands of business education graduates on yearly basis, many of these graduates being unemployed. Nigeria has been on the lead as one of the nations with the highest number of awfully poor people. No wonder the jobless rate of youths in Nigeria has climbed to 33.3% from 27.1% recorded in the second quarter of 2020. To reduce this scourge of unemployment, there is a need to leverage the opportunities provided by e-commerce. Hence, this revision intended to explore e-commerce technology by business education graduates for employment opportunities and self-reliance in Nigeria. A survey design was employed. The participants for the study were 1303. The sample for the study was 475, comprising 138 workers of e-commerce vendors and 337 business education graduates across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. 55 questionnaire items tagged "E-commerce Technology for Employment Opportunities and Self-Reliant Questionnaire (ETEOSQ) were raised for data gathering and certified by three experts in business education and online marketing vendors. Cronbach Alpha method of reliability was employed to ascertain the inner consistency of the instrument. The result showed coefficients of 0.92, 0.88, and 0.82 for sections A, B, and C of ETEOSQ respectively. The combined index of reliability was 0.89 meaning the questionnaire was very highly reliable. Data administration was done through online platforms. Data gathered were analyzed statistically using statistics such as mean, analysis of variance, and independent t-test statistics. The study found 15 benefits of exploring e-commerce technology, 22 e-commerce platforms, and vendors, as well as 18 practical activities needed to explore e-commerce technology. It was concluded that business education graduates can leverage the benefits provided by e-commerce platforms and vendors for employment and become self-reliant by following the basic activities involved in e-commerce. The study, therefore, recommended amongst others that business education graduates should weigh in on the benefits provided by e-commerce for gainful employment. This can be achieved by adopting the drop shipping strategies, which require no financial obligation in setting up.
KEYWORDS
Business education program, E-commerce, E-commerce activities and benefits, E-commerce platforms and vendors, Self-reliance, Unemployment
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