Innovative Food Processing and Entrepreneurial Skills as Catalysts for Workforce Readiness among Business Education Graduates in the 21st Century Competitive Market

Abstract

This study examined innovative food-processing and entrepreneurial skills as catalysts for workforce readiness among Business Education students in the 21st century competitive market. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. The population comprised 54 Business Education students at the University of Calabar, and the entire population was studied using the census sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Innovative Food Processing, Entrepreneurial Skills and Workforce Readiness Questionnaire (IFPESWRQ). The instrument was structured on a four-point rating scale. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while regression analysis was employed to test the null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that innovative food-processing skills were possessed by the students to a high extent, with a grand mean of 3.00. However, innovative food processing skills did not significantly predict workforce readiness (R = 0.183, R2 = 0.033, β = 0.183, t = 1.340, p = 0.186). Entrepreneurial skills were also possessed to a high extent, with a grand mean of 3.01, and significantly predicted workforce readiness (R = 0.342, R2 = 0.117, β = 0.342, t = 2.628, p = 0.011). The study concluded that although innovative food-processing skills provide useful technical competencies, entrepreneurial skills have a significant role in enhancing workforce readiness among Business Education students. The study recommended stronger integration of practical entrepreneurship, food-processing competencies and broader employability skills into Business Education programmes, together with increased experiential learning and university industry collaboration.

Keywords: Innovative Food Processing; Entrepreneurial Skills; Workforce Readiness; Business Education; Food Technology; Employability

Citation

Akandu Kulo V, Maryvivian Chinyere O, Cletus Akpo A. Innovative Food Processing and Entrepreneurial Skills as Catalysts for Workforce Readiness among Business Education Graduates in the 21st Century Competitive Market. WebLog J Nutr Food Sci. wjnfs.2026. j2201. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23612398