Developing Entrepreneurship Skills for Self-Reliance among Tertiary Institution Graduates in Kano State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2025218Keywords:
Entrepreneurship education, Self-reliance, Entrepreneurial intentions, Career readiness, Experiential learningAbstract
This study investigated Developing entrepreneurship skills for self-reliance among tertiary education graduates in Kano State, Nigeria. The study also examines how entrepreneurship programmes in institutions affect students’ entrepreneurship intentions, career readiness and skills acquisition. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining survey data from 273 male and 111 female students from three tertiary institutions making a sample of 384 students and an in-depth interview with 20 entrepreneur educators at the colleges and universities selected for the study. The instruments for data collection are self-developed questionnaire and focus group discussion FGD with reliability coefficient of 0.62 and 0.69 respectively. The result of the study revealed that; There is significant gender difference between Male and female students in perceived entrepreneurial education and skill acquisition among tertiary institutions graduates in Kano state. No significant difference between rural and urban students in perceived entrepreneurial education and skill acquisition was observed among tertiary institutions graduates in Kano state. No significant difference in perceived entrepreneurial education and skill acquisition among tertiary institutions in Kano state. Based on the findings major recommendations were offered; educators and policy makers should emphasize integrating entrepreneurship education into curricula, promoting experiential learning and supporting mentorship initiative. Gender inclusiveness should be enhanced to ensure gender equality in entrepreneurial training. State and Federal governments should support students with loan that will promote entrepreneurship and skill acquisition among graduates of tertiary institutions, among others.
References
Adeyemo, K. A. (2013). Entrepreneurship education and self-employment: A study of Nigerian University graduates. Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 16(1), 1-14.
Afolabi, M. O. (2017). Entrepreneurship education and youth unemployment in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(10), 1-8.
Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. Berlin: Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69746-3_2
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1973). Attitude and Normative Variables as Predictors of Specific Behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 27(1), 41-57 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0034440
Bandura, A (1986) Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, pp 191-215 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.84.2.191
Bichi. Y. M. (2004). Educational Research and Statistics, Debis Co Press, Kano, Nigeria.
Beugelsdijk, S., Noorderhaven, N. (2005). Personality Characteristics of Self-Employed; An Empirical Study. Small Business Economics 24(2), 159-167. DOI 10.1007/s11187-003-3806-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-003-3806-3
Boyd, N.G. & Vozikis, G.S. (1994). The Influence of Self-Efficacy on the Development of Entrepreneurial Intentions and Actions. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 18(4), 63 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/104225879401800404
Chen, C.C., Greene, P.G., & Crick, A. (1998). Does Entrepreneurial Self-efficacy Distinguish Entrepreneurs from Managers? Journal of Business Venturing, 13(4), 295–316. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(97)00029-3
Eide, E.R and M H Showalter, M. H (2010). Huamn Capital. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA 2010 Elsevier Ltd. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.01213-6
Emmanuel, E.A. (2012). Entrepreneurship Education & Attitude of Undergraduate Students to Self-Employment in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice. 3(8); 9.5
GEM (2020). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: 2020/2021 Global Report.
Henry, C. (2013). Entrepreneurship Education in HE: Are Policy Makers Expecting too Much? Education and Training, 55, 836-848. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-06-2013-0079
Hodgins, H. S., Weibust, K. S., Weinstein, N., Shiff- man, S., Miller, A., Coombs, G. & Adair, K. C. (2010). The Cost of Self-Protection: Threat Response and Performance as A Function of Autonomous and Controlled Motivations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(8), 1101–1114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167210375618
Jones, B., & Iredale, N. (2010). Viewpoint: Enterprise Education as Pedagogy. Education & Training, 52, 7-18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911011017654
Magasi, C. (2022). The Influence of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intentions: Perception of Higher Education Graduates. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Sciences. 2147-4478, 11 (2): 371-380 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v11i2.1701
Merwe, A. (2010). Does Human Capital Theory Explain the Value of Higher Education? A South African Case Study. Durban University of Technology, South Africa. American Journal of Business Education – January 2010 Volume 3, Number 1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19030/ajbe.v3i1.378
NBS (2023). National Bureau of Statistics. Nigeria's Unemployment Rate. National Bureau of Statistics. Abuja Nigeria
NPE (2013). National Policy on Education. Federal Ministry of Education. Abuja Nigeria.
OECD (2019). Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Paris France
Orodho, A.J. (2008) Elements of Education and Social Science Research Methods. Kanezja, Nairobi.
Paniel, B. B. (2015). Research Design in Social Sciences.
Pintrich, P R and Schunk, D H (2003) Motivation in Education: Theory, Research and Applications (2nd ed) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Merrill
Ribeiro-Soriano, D. (2017). Small business and Entrepreneurship: their Role in Economic and Social Development. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 29(1-2), pp.1-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2016.1255438
Van Dinther, M, Dochy, F and Segers, M (2010) Factors Affecting Students' Self-Efficacy In Higher Education. Educational Research Review, 6, pp 95-108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2010.10.003
Zamora, B. (2006) A New Discussion of The Human Capital Theory in the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Economic Theory, Policy and Applications, Athens, Greece. 21-23
