Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.5, No.35, 2014 30 Creating Self-Reliant Opportunities through Enterpreneurial and Functional Educational Technology: A Panacea for Nigeria's Youth Unemployment Dr. (Mrs.) C.C. Nsofor Department of Science Education, Federal University of Technology, Minna Niger State E-Mail: chinnansofor@gmail.com Dr. Ann E. Umeh, Department of Science Education, Federal University of Technology, Minna Niger State Email: umehann22@gmail.com Bello Ahmed, Department of Science Education, Federal University of Technology, Minna Niger State Email: ahmadbellow@gmail.com A.W. Idris College of Education Minna, Niger State E-mail: ahmadballow@gmail.com Abstract In this rapidly changing world, the quest for self-reliance through education has always been the desire of many nations especially in the present face of global economic challenge. This has triggers many countries of the world to re-evaluate their position and question their roles as nations and consider investing heavily in education. Consequently, repeated call for massive reform of current educational practices has consistently been the dream of many Nigerians and has resulted in an increasing recognition of entrepreneurial and functional educational technology as a panacea to the clarion call. This paper examined the concepts of entrepreneurship and functional educational technology. It further highlighted how Nigeria youth unemployment can be solved through entrepreneurial and functional educational technology as well as the entrepreneurship skills in a functional educational technology for self reliance. Keywords: Innovations, Creativity, Self -reliance, entrepreneurship Introduction The abundance of natural resources in any nation does not in itself make it to be ranked among the developed, rather it is the specialized skills, competence and ability possessed by it is populace which can be harnessed to utilize these resources. Nigeria as a developing nation need a comprehensive functional education that will impart and impact the right knowledge, skills and attitudes as well as stir up the productive potentials of the citizenry to achieve self reliance. In this rapidly changing world, the quest for self-reliance through education has always been the desire of many nations especially in the present face of global economic challenge. This has triggers many countries of the world to re-evaluate their position and question their roles as nations and consider investing heavily in education. Molenda, (2008) sees education as a light that shows the mankind the right direction to surge and that its purpose is not just making a student literate produce computers or robots but adds rationale thinking, creativity and self sufficiency for self reliance which are cherished in every civilized society. Supporting this, Udofia, (2009) hold the view that education must reflect the diversity of needs, expectations, interests and cultural contexts. Additionally, Udofia, (2009) observed that to achieve a sustained and purposeful self reliant nation, an effective innovation within the education system is required to harness the potential offered by modern science and technology to its social and economic advantage. This awareness has however, replaced an earlier belief that heavy investment in scientific and technological research and the purchase of technology from abroad were sufficient to achieve these goals. According to Cachia, (2010) innovation in its broadest conception is the means through which individuals seek to acquire, exploit and diffuse knowledge for the achievement of individual and collective goals. Molenda, (2008) remarked that educational technology experts nowadays do not have to teach information but how to use information for self reliance. This is based on the believe that educators have the power to unlock the creative and innovative potential of the young.