51 Entrepreneurial Mentoring Application and Benchmarking in Out-of-School Vocational Training Centres. Kayii, NumbaraBari Emmanuel & Uranta, Akiebie Beneth Department of Business Education, Rivers State University, Nkpolu- Port Harcourt. Nigeria Numbarabari.kayii@ust.edu.ng ABSTRACT In the last decades, many concerns have been given on ways to develop a sustainable economy and measures to engender the enthronement of wealth for all through the acquisition of marketable skills for self-reliance. This paper presents a critical review of entrepreneurial mentoring and the benefits of entrepreneurship to economic development. It also examines the different views of who the entrepreneur is, its general principles for effective entrepreneurial mentoring and the determination of reliable benchmark for entrepreneurial mentoring in out-of-school vocational training Centre. Keyword: Entrepreneurial, mentoring, Benchmarking, vocational, out-of-school INTRODUCTION The skill and development under taken by various out-of-school vocational training centres have far reaching impact on the individual and the economy in general. From the time of the socialist economy, when means of production were control by the state to the free enterprise economy where services, product and price are determined by the market forces. There has been the desire to grow the economy through youth empowerment programs in our communities. Entrepreneurial initiatives are being encouraged to achieve high efficiency and productivity by all and sundries, because it is seen as crucial measure to increase the empowerment continuum of the out-of-school youth in our communities. Understanding the drivers of economic growth is crucial to entrepreneurial mentoring, planning, investment strategies, fending off recessions, and working out measures to be a producing nation rather than a consuming one. If we know how to raise long-term growth rate, open up more opportunities, it would be developing entrepreneurial mindset, to tackle poverty and improve the quality of life for everyone. In this study, we will look at some of the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, key to successful entrepreneurial mentoring relationship, general principles and practices among others. Why Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program? Researchers have shown that without the encouragement of private entrepreneurs, the nation will be unable to cope with its enormous responsibilities; to ensure economic growth and development, build and maintain schools and universities, provide affordable health care, provide and maintain its infrastructural facilities etc. the present task of government and private sector is to put in place the mechanisms for the development of more Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship programs to handle these outlined responsibilities. This paradigm shift from the traditional teaching of entrepreneurship courses or subjects in schools, help trainees to strengthen their entrepreneurial imagination, instillation, attitude and behavior and cultivation of innovative mindset (Ottih, 2014). Also, researchers have argued that entrepreneurship cannot be taught because entrepreneurship is closely associated with risk taking and that is rather a congenital trait than a learnt skill. What is been taught and learnt in any entrepreneurship training are the International Journal of Business & Law Research 6(2):51-58, April-June, 2018 © SEAHI PUBLICATIONS, 2018 www.seahipaj.org ISSN: 2360-8986