Entrepreneurial Possibilities in Graphic Arts and Design Education: A Survey on Printing Technology in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Author(s): Femi Kayode

The experiential knowledge graphic arts and design education embrace are many and technologically complex, but it is timely to place a welcome emphasis on the entrepreneurial possibilities it stands to offer. One possibility is the graphic art technology which is often referred to as printing, publishing and packaging industry. A mounting pressure has emerged, according to Perry (2005) that is affecting the total package of education and the economic development of a nation. Acquisition of self-reliant skills and competencies should beget the eventual profile of any education goal. In the words of Akhuemonkhan (2005) and Oyetunji (2006) without vision a nation perishes. This presupposes that without entrepreneurship, economies perish. As successive governments in Nigeria are licensing private and public higher institutions for operations, the need for sustainable education continues to be of rapidly increasing economic and socio-economic worries. The specific objective of learning outcome should be such that school leavers in a given country are empowered to apply acquired skills and competences productively to fend for life expectancies always at leaving school. The concept of ‘sustainability’ of livelihood is an essential ballgame noted not only with rising concern but also as a matter of life and death. There is an urgent need to address some harsh realities in the planning, organization and administration of the Nigerian educational curriculum which hitherto has been indirectly responsible for the ailment of the national economy. This issue is global and more relevant to anyone involved in developing or delivering art and design curricular in schools (Hickman, 2005).

1. Adediji, B. (2010). Mass poverty, environmental technology and leadership challenge. 3rd Annual Lecture of the School of Environmental Technology, Federal university of Technology, Akure, 11th November.
2. Akhuemonkhan, I., A. (2005). Modalities of teaching entrepreneurship in technical institution. Paper presented at the National Workshop on Capacity Building for Lecturers of Polytechnics and Monotechnics in Nigeria. Organized by EducationTrust Fund (ETF). August 22-26.
3. Berry, T. & Wilson, D. (2004). On target: The Book on Marketing Plans. USA, Palo Alto Software, Inc.
4. Folorunsho, F. C. (2004). Developing Nigeria’s economy through the visual arts. Journal of Arts and Ideas (JAI), 8, 75-81.
5. Hickman, R. (2005). A short history of critical studies in art and design education. In Critical Studies in Art and Design Education, Richard Hickman (ed). United Kingdom, Intellect Books.
6. Ibidunni, O. S. (2010). Marketing research for excellence. Ota, Nigeria, Concept Publications.
7. Kayode, O. F. (2004). Screen printing vocation: A remedy to youth unemployment in Nigeria. Journal of Art and Ideas, vol. 8, 13-17.
8. Momoh, T. (1985). The food. A publication of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Lagos. 7-10.
9. Olabode, F. T. (2011). Strategy for women empowerment to enhance self-reliance. Paper presented by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries for the Glorious Women Fellowship, Lagos, December 12-14.
10. Oyetunji, O. I. O. (2006). Development of entrepreneurship among the polytechnic students: A solution to graduate unemployment in Nigeria. Paper presented at the National Workshop on Capacity Building for Lecturers of Polytechnics and Monotechnics in Nigeria. Organized by Education Trust Fund (ETF). August 22-26.
11. Perry, L. (2005). Theoretical comments. In Critical Studies in Art and Design Education, Richard Hickman (ed). United Kingdom, Intellect Books.
12. Standfield, N. F. (1976). A handbook of the Art teaching in tropical schools, London. Evans Brothers publishers, 31 & 224.