Students' Entrepreneurial Intentions and Formal Education a Study of Selected Universities in South-Southm Nigeria

Abstract

: This study examined the nature of relationship existing between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention among students in selected universities in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted survey design using structured questionnaire to elicit data. The population was obtained from selected universities during field survey. Systematic sampling technique was adopted in selecting nine (9) universities from a total of twenty-two (22) in the zone. The sample size and number of units allocated to each university was determined using Taro Yamane and Bowley's Proportional Allocation Formulae respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypothesis. The finding revealed that a positive and significant relationship exist between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention of students., The study therefore, recommends that entrepreneurship education should be made functional and taught at all levels to inculcate entrepreneurial spirit in our citizen's from childhood to complement parental and/or guardian efforts. Universities should provide scholarship to lecturers to specialize in the basics of entrepreneurship, provide the needed infrastructure, partner with micro, small, medium (SMEs) and large enterprises to serve as mentors. Governments and other investors should encourage young entrepreneurs by the provision of seed capital, Tax holidays, Management consultancy.