Harnessing Entrepreneurial Skills for Entrepreneurial Career: A Viable Option for Retiring Polytechnic Lecturers in Nigeria

The objective of this paper is to examine the entrepreneurial skills required for a successful transition of lecturers into entrepreneurship, and highlight various entrepreneurial career options available to retiring polytechnic lecturers. The study used textbooks, journals, periodicals and online databases to obtain information. The information collected was subjected to critical analysis to determine its relevance. The study discovered that the majority of polytechnic lecturers in Nigeria left service after attaining the recommended length of service or age limit without any plan for life after retirement. In addition, governments’ inability to pay retirement benefits on time further complicates the problems. Some retired lecturers find it difficult to adjust to current realities, leading to health problems due to financial pressure. Lecturers possess entrepreneurial skills that are appropriate to entrepreneurship. The paper argues that entrepreneurship can provide a fulfilling and profitable career path for retiring polytechnic lecturers, enabling them to utilize their knowledge, expertise, and experiences to create value and wealth. In the future, empirical studies should be conducted to explore the interjection between entrepreneurial skills/competences and entrepreneurial career options for Nigerian polytechnic lecturers. The approach taken in this paper is conceptual.