CONTRIBUTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA

Abstract
This study examined the contribution of entrepreneurship to sustainable economic growth in Nigeria covering a period of 17 years from 2000 to 2017. The study proxy entrepreneurship by six variables which include; Entrepreneurship in agriculture and forestry (EAF), Entrepreneurship in mining and quarry (EMQ), Entrepreneurship in manufacturing and food processing (EMFP), Entrepreneurship in real estate and construction (EREC), Entrepreneurship in transport and commerce (ETC), and Entrepreneurship in other businesses (OTHERS), while economic growth is measured by Unemployment Rate (UER). Multiple regression was conducted and the result shows that Entrepreneurship in agriculture and forestry (EAF), Entrepreneurship in mining and quarry (EMQ), Entrepreneurship in real estate and construction (EREC), and Entrepreneurship in other businesses (OTHERS) contribute positively to economic growth. Additionally, Entrepreneurship in manufacturing and food processing (EMFP) and Entrepreneurship in transport and commerce (ETC) indicate a negative effect on economic growth. Consequently, recommends that the government and would-be entrepreneurs should invest more in Entrepreneurship in agriculture and forestry (EAF), Entrepreneurship in mining and quarry (EMQ), Entrepreneurship in real estate and construction (EREC), and Entrepreneurship in other businesses (OTHERS) since they contribute more to the reduction of unemployment in Nigeria.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Economic Growth, Unemployment Rate, Nigeria

Introduction
Entrepreneurship has become strategic in the economic transformation of developing economies given the successes recorded since the 90s in countries like China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia to mention a few. Countries that possess entrepreneurial initiative tend to have experienced a greater decrease in unemployment rates as well as a recorded sustained increase in the standard of living (Ebiringa 2012). It is widely believed that entrepreneurship is beneficial for economic growth and development. Therefore, interest in entrepreneurial development continues to be a leading policy debate in developing countries, like Nigeria. Nigeria is classified as one of the poorest countries in the world despite its huge daily estimated earnings from oil revenue (Nwokoye, Onwuka, Uwajumogu, & Ogbonna, 2013). This is possible as the Nigerian economy seems to neglect other revenue hence, the Nigerian economy experienced a dwindling economy with a rise in the unemployment rate, inflation rate, and fall in general economic growth as oil revenue falls.