ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BUSINESS EDUCATION: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF OFFICE AND DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This study assesses the economic impact of business education on sustainable development
in Nigeria, with specific emphasis on office and distributive education. Guided by human
capital theory and the sustainability framework, the research adopted a descriptive survey
design. The study population comprised business education students, graduates, lecturers,
and employers of labor in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, from which a sample of 350
respondents was drawn using multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques. Data were
collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics,
regression, and chi-square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that business
education makes a significant contribution to workforce preparedness and employability,
while office and distributive education significantly predict sustainable development
outcomes such as job creation and entrepreneurship. However, systemic challenges—
including inadequate funding, poor ICT integration, outdated curricula, and low teacher
motivation—were identified as major barriers, limiting the full realization of business
education’s potential. The rejection of all three null hypotheses confirmed the empirical
evidence that business education, though impactful, remains constrained in Nigeria. The
study concludes that business education is an indispensable tool for advancing national
development but requires comprehensive reforms to enhance its relevance and
effectiveness. Recommendations include increased funding, continuous curriculum
modernization, ICT integration, professional development for teachers, and improvement of
public perception. This study contributes to theory by reaffirming the human capital
perspective and expanding sustainability debates, while offering practical and policy
guidance for strengthening business education as a driver of economic transformation in
Nigeria.