Predictors of Nigerian Students` Desire to be an Entrepreneur; Any differences based on Gender?

Abstract

<p>The student entrepreneurship issues create the focus of academic studies over the world. Entrepreneurship is an important element of national economic growth, and university business students represent an important feeder pool for a nation’s supply of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial activities have a positive influence on national development and prosperity (Friedman, 2011; Kirzner, 2009; Acs et al, 2008). As attitudes, beliefs and motives have important implications for career choice and behavior, the motives of entrepreneurs are important yet little empirical research exists that identifies elements that predict the desire to become an entrepreneur. Such research would have vast implications for policy makers that hope to encourage and incentivize entrepreneurship on a national level. The purpose of this study is to identify and contrast predictors of Nigerian students’ desire to be entrepreneurs by using Entrepreneurial Motives Questionnaire (Friedman et al, 2012). Firstly a literature review pertaining to entrepreneur motives, and then hypotheses, results, and study implications were stated by taking gender into consideration.</p>

Entrepreneurial Development and Employment Creation: A Focus on Education and Financial Aid as a Sustainable Option for Youths in Nigeria

“…The innovatory contributions of entrepreneurship have been hampered by numerous challenges (Ikebujo,2020). Keles (2016), uncovers hitches encountered by the entrepreneurs in Nigeria as harsh tax and business laws, unbalanced economic structure, high inflation, red tape and mafia and absence of entrepreneurial culture. Ayoade and Agwu (2016) clarified that entrepreneurial culture is one that appreciates ambitious thinking and free expression (as cited in Agwu and Kadiri, 2014).…”

“…Since white collar jobs are not easy to come by entrepreneurship is rapidly becoming a means to an end for most Nigerian youths. Keles (2016), aver that Small and Medium Scale (SME's) has impressively contributed to the growth, development and industrialization of nations and the world at large. The efforts of the government to encourage entrepreneurial development through SME's technological transfer basis has proven abortive because, in contrast, indigenous entrepreneurs turn into distribution agents of foreign products thereby foregoing the in-country entrepreneurial potential for industrialization, mechanized farming and provision of professional services (Igwe, 2013).…”