The Impact of Entrepreneurial Studies on Students’ Aspiration for Self-Employment after School in Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the impact of entrepreneurial studies in the Federal University Lafia on students’ aspiration for self-employment after school. Five research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The theoretical frame work had a combination of McClelland’s psychological theory of entrepreneurship, Hagen’s (1962) theory of social change, Schumpter (1934) theory of entrepreneurship innovation, and the job creation model of Offusion, Nwolodo and Dele (2010). A survey design adopted for the study drew a total of 85 respondents, all final year students, from eleven departments in the University based on convenience sampling techniques. The findings revealed that aspiration of students to be self-employed was influenced by a combination of factors including the desire to be self-reliance, ending unemployment, and the need to get rid of poverty. Respondents were highly motivated by entrepreneurial studies on topics that placed emphasis on self-employment, enhancement of creative ideas and building of self-esteem; moderately motivated by “enhancement of aspiration, and provision of practical skills for development. However, the adequacy of the programme was rated low. Respondents who opted for self- employment looked up to family members and friends for soft loans, as well as banks and cooperative societies, to raise capital. Based on these findings we recommended among others,improvement on entrepreneurial studies to include more practical classes, provision of adequate classroom facilities, and equipment for practical among others.