ABSTRACT
The study is an empirical work that attempted to investigate the background of analysis of impact of students disposition in business attitudes within the context of their educational endeavour and personal behaviours are explored within the individual concept of interest. The study analyzed and compared the dierences in entrepreneurial potential and perception about entrepreneurship by graduating students of Kaduna Polytechnic. Scholars were consulted to determine their contributions to the body of knowledge within the confines of research study. The total research population was 3804 with a sample size of 370 as the respondents using stratified research design to achieve the objectives of the study and primary data collected by means of closed-ended questionnaire as instrument. The statement of hypothesis to be tested: H1: An individual student’s course of study has significant positive impact on students’ tendency to be an entrepreneur; H0: An individual course of study has no significant impact on a students’ choice of being an entrepreneur. Frequency distribution tables were used for the analysis of data collected while the hypothesis was tested using the Chi-square (X2) and the eect of each variable on the sample subjects. The study revealed that entrepreneurship practice is never restricted to one particular descriptive but applies to all aspects of human endeavour and also contributes to human and economic development of a nation. Recommendations as to the roles of individual and stakeholders were put forward particularly that the governments at all levels need to cerate a favourable business climate to boost entrepreneurial development inNigeria.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The rate of unemployment among school graduates is quite alarming in Nigeria. As part of measures to ameliorate the growing ugly situation, government at all levels (federal, state and local) are putting in place measures to encourage self-reliance, creativity and innovation drive through entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. To understand entrepreneurship and development is to discover why Nigeria is described as a developing economy. Developing economy explains the extent by which men and women should contribute to develop workable ways or strategies in order to achieve economic growth and development. It revitalizes the dominant potentialities of every youth in providing job employment for others rather than seeking out for employment. It also assists to underscore the responsibilities of the government in fostering an environment of growth for entrepreneurial initiatives. It further opens avenues for the government to develop the right strategies especially in addressing poverty in the country (Erlinda D, 2011).
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It is envisaged that government at all levels will have to put in place all necessary infrastructures to promote the growth and development of small and medium scale enterprises (SME) in the country to enable Nigeria attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target set by the United Nations by the year 2012 and Nigeria vision 20-20-20. A vibrant SMSE sector is critical in the realization of MDGs objective. Experts have observed that Nigeria may not likely meet the MDGs target by reducing poverty by 50% by the year 2015 considering the present status of SMSE operations in Nigeria. It is universally accepted that Micro (Small) and Medium Scale Enterprises are the engine of development of any nation. A nation’s rate of development is determined by the number of SMEs in the country. Statistical studies have shown that 40 – 50% SMEs in most advanced countries of the world are owned by graduates or those who passed through Colleges. Given this facts in Nigeria, the opposite seems to be the case (Business Day Newspaper 9th Jan., 2007, pg. 13). Scholars have divergent views on who is an entrepreneur and who is not. While the first school of through is of the opinion the entrepreneurs can be made (taught through formal classes) the other group however are of the opinion that entrepreneurs are born (an inheritance). They argued further that entrepreneurs possess special qualities and must have the right attitude and disposition towards entrepreneurship. This development is likely to inculcate in students the right aptitude and attitudes to starting their won business and by implicating making them a better entrepreneur.
Considering the fact that the key factors that give rise to enterprise are personal, sociological and environmental factors. For quite some time now by statistical analysis, over 3 millions Nigerians in a given year become qualified to form the labour market largely from both Universities and Polytechnics but, regrettably, not more than 10% of this population are likely to gain employment to join the formal sector. The International Labour Organization collaborated this very poor level graduates, employment yearly (Bugaje, Hamalai & Indabawa, 2002). Indeed, it is obvious that with the level of development and attendant threats in Nigeria, the possibility of government having the capability of leveraging poverty and meeting the United Nation target on MDGs 2012 is remote. Inspite of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s eort towards setting up institutions such as National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP), Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) and other relevant programmes with other world bodies and NGOs, the piece of entrepreneurship development is still low when compared with other developing countries with developed nation taking the lead. Thus, this research work is an attempt to investigate the individual characteristics of graduating students with a view to understand whether some students are more likely to take to entrepreneurship than others irrespective of their course of study. Attempt will be therefore be made to understand the possible influence of a students course of study in their desire to start a business of their own.
