Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Entrepreneurship has been recognized globally as a key driver of economic development and job creation. In the context of Nigeria, where youth unemployment is a significant challenge, promoting entrepreneurship among graduates has become a priority for policymakers and stakeholders. This study aims to investigate the determinants of entrepreneurship among graduates in Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach is employed, combining a quantitative survey with qualitative interviews. The quantitative survey gathers data on various factors such as educational background, work experience, access to finance, family support, and entrepreneurial intentions. The qualitative interviews provide deeper insights into the motivations, challenges, and experiences of graduate entrepreneurs. Preliminary findings suggest that there is a strong positive correlation between educational background and entrepreneurship among graduates in Nigeria. Those with a background in business or related fields are more likely to venture into entrepreneurship compared to graduates from other disciplines. Work experience also plays a significant role, with individuals who have prior work experience being more inclined to start their own businesses. Access to finance is identified as a major barrier to entrepreneurship among graduates in Nigeria. Many aspiring entrepreneurs face challenges in securing funding to start or expand their businesses. This underscores the need for better financial support mechanisms tailored to the specific needs of graduate entrepreneurs. Family support is found to be a crucial determinant of entrepreneurship among graduates. Individuals who receive encouragement and support from their families are more likely to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. On the other hand, lack of family support can hinder entrepreneurial ambitions, highlighting the importance of a supportive social environment. Entrepreneurial intentions are prevalent among graduates in Nigeria, with many expressing a desire to start their own businesses. However, the transition from intention to action is fraught with challenges, including limited resources, market uncertainties, and regulatory barriers. Addressing these challenges is essential to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that enables graduates to successfully establish and grow their businesses. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the determinants of entrepreneurship among graduates in Nigeria, highlighting the role of education, work experience, access to finance, and family support. By understanding these factors, policymakers and stakeholders can design effective interventions to promote entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in the country.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In recent years, entrepreneurship education has been developing steadily but unevenly in most countries. In the United State for example, which has been a trailblazer and leader in the field, the last decade has been described as an important era, with a significant increase in student interest (Fiet 2001a) the figure tend to support this statement.

In 1971, only 16 colleges and universities in U.S. offered entrepreneurship education program, while today, there are more than 800.

Entrepreneurship is an under search topic in the social sciences and especially in economics. It was not always so, Schumpeter discusses the role of the entrepreneurship in the process of economic development at length. He imagine the entrepreneur as a creative driven individual who find new combination of factors of production” to discover and develop a new product, to apply strategy for a new market or design a new technology.

The United States have a comparatively long tradition of fostering entrepreneurs at universities and business schools. While the first entrepreneurship courses were taught at Harvard Business School as early as the 1930s, this field has seen increasing attention since the 1970s. By 1990, 400 universities in America were already estimates exceed 700 (Vesper and Macmillan 1988: Hills and Morris 1988, Fiet 2001) progress in this field has thus been extremely impressive.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Throughout the world, student in entrepreneurship as a career choice is growing Brenneret 1991, Hart et Harrison, 1992, while interest in traditional professional employment in big business is gradually declining (Kovereld 1996), the orientation and behaviours of student and young graduates are influenced by a number of personal and environmental factors.

Under uncertainly, out came may be characterized by an expected value which summarizes the potential out comes of the probability of their occurring. Business profits are typically an uncertain function of the work effort extended by the entrepreneur, with an expected profit level for each effort level surrounded by a variance of profit outcomes due to the impact of unexpected changed in consumer preferences competition price and product offerings, macro-economic variables and so on.

This profit variance introduces the role that additional remuneration for that effort profit variance is considered by potential entrepreneurs who asses stability (certainty of ensuring a pay check every month avoiding rise, maintaining current life style) before making a decision to set up a new venture (Amit, et al 1996) given the myriad of factors that surrounds the decision making frame of a young Nigeria graduate who intends to put a career in entrepreneur, it is imperative that answers be found to the following questions. What are the attitudes influences, their intention toward becoming entrepreneurs? What are the subjective norms underlying their intention of becoming entrepreneur? What control beliefs influence their intentions