Abstract
Every year Nigerian tertiary institutions turned out millions of graduates of which the Nigeria labor market could barely absorb few of them. The hydra-headed problem of graduate unemployment is attributable to the disequilibrium between labor market requirement and lack of essential employable skills by Nigerian graduates. The paper therefore examined the role of entrepreneurship education and training programmes in reducing graduate unemployment in Osun State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Using multistage sampling technique 3,500 unemployed graduates were selected across the 30 local governments in the state. Five research hypotheses were raised for testing. Data were gathered through a researcher’s constructed structured questionnaire titled “Role of Entrepreneurship Education and Training Programmes in Reducing Graduate Unemployment Questionnaire (REETPGUQ). The data collected were analyzed using chi-square (x2) statistical tool. Findings from the study revealed that entrepreneurship programmes in the state significantly influenced reduction in graduates’ unemployment in the state. Based on the findings it was recommended among others that government should ensure that there are school based enterprises where students can identify businesses, plans, create and operate small business by using the school as mini incubator. DOI: https://doie.org/10.50390/NCAEJ.2026966155