Title: Determinants of entrepreneurial propensity of Nigerian undergraduates: an empirical assessment

Authors: W.O. Siyanbola; O.O. Afolabi; O.A. Jesuleye; A.A. Egbetokun; A.D. Dada; H.O. Aderemi; Maruf Sanni; M.A. Rasaq

Addresses: National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ' National Centre for Technology Management, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, PMB 012, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract: The specific factors that influence the entrepreneurial inclination of students were studied with a view to proposing appropriate policy measures on entrepreneurship within tertiary institutions. The sample for the study consisted of 7,560 students from a total of 25 tertiary institutions with 83% response rate. While we found that entrepreneurial interest among Nigerian students is quite high, the expression of this interest in practice is rather low. The main factors found to significantly explain entrepreneurial interest are parents' educational qualifications, family entrepreneurial history, family socio-demographics, students' entrepreneurial experience, and students' sociodemographics. Of the 14 variables identified as being central in encouraging students' entrepreneurial interests, only five can be defined as necessary, though not sufficient conditions to stimulate interest: gender, number of children by father, position among mother's children, father's monthly income and entrepreneurial education. This has policy implications both for government and the institutions. The study provides baseline information for researchers and policy makers who need to better understand the dynamics of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial interest; tertiary institutions; undergraduates; Nigeria; policy; ethnicity; risk; university students; higher education; youth; young people.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2012.044925

International Journal of Business Environment, 2012 Vol.5 No.1, pp.1 - 29

Accepted: 27 May 2011
Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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