1 RE-APPRAISAL APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILL ACQUISITION AS AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION BY Muhammed Abdullahi Ph.D Ibrahim Isah Salisu Musa Zakari Nasarawa State University Keffi -Nigeria E-mail: musazakarimni@yahoo.com Abstract The entrepreneurial function implies the discovery, assessment and exploitation of opportunities, in other words, entrepreneurship means; creating new products, services or production processes; new strategies and organizational forms and new markets for products and inputs that did not previously exist. The aim of this study is to investigate the relevance of skill acquisition in solving the problem of unemployment in Nigeria. Content Analysis and Exploratory Case Studies research method were used for the study. The target populations comprised of some selected skills acquisition centres in South West Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique method was used; the sample of 12 skill acquisition centre, two from each State. The main research instrument use was in-depth interviews. The study is very important because it will assist government in formulating policy and programme that will further strengthen the innovative skills to be acquired for economic diversification and economic growth. Findings from the study reveal that Skill acquisition is a dynamic skills transmission that is self-regulating and self-reliance. The study further reveals that, about 30 Products were selected for the skill acquisition programme. The skill acquisitions programme covers the following Products: Power inverters, Automatic power changeover switch, Installation of solar power, accessories, electrical devices repairs, Dettol and liquid soap production, stove wick production, scurrying powder, Kampala production, Electric packaged fish, Anti-mosquito repellant cream, roots and herbs natural soap, after shelves natural spirits, Bead making and wire work etc. the study therefore, recommends that, in order to reduce unemployment and improve informal micro-enterprises, reduce poverty and increase GDP, government should invest heavy on innovative technology, research institute like TICs and others. Keyword: Entrepreneurs, Technology Incubation Centres (TICs), Skill Acquisition, Training programme and human capital development. 1.1 Introduction The main emphasis of the skills acquisition programme is to provide the needed entrepreneurial skill for the production of innovative product of higher quality as well as more market responsive. These can be achieved through upgrading prospective entrepreneurs with adequate entrepreneurial knowledge and strengthening their capacity to provide high quality products and services to compete favourably with the