EMPOWERING YOUTHS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT THROUGH SMALL SCALE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

BY
MARY M. AIYELESO (Ph.D)
Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Jos
mmayeleso@yahoo.com 08035989999 


ABSTRACT

This paper is focused on empowering Youths with Hearing Impairment through Small Scale Business (Soap making) and Entrepreneurship Education. The goals of National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) are based upon reducing poverty and create measures of empowering Nigerian citizens for sustainable development however Youths with Hearing Impairment reforms were not properly addressed. This might be responsible for the poverty level and increased begging of alms among the Youths with Hearing Impairment. The paper further examined concept of Youths with Hearing Impairment, Small Scale Business, Entrepreneurship education and how it could empower the Youths with Hearing Impairment for a better quality of life. Importance and benefits of Small Scale Business and Entrepreneurship education were highlighted. Various ways of financing Small Scale Business and how it could be managed were also advanced.  Useful recommendations on how to ensure sustainable Small Scale Business and Entrepreneurship Education towards self-dependence, economic empowerment and social integration of Persons with Hearing Impairment in Nigeria were provided.
