1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
Over the years, the crucial area for intervention is the school system, where entrepreneurship may be promoted as a respectable substitute for dependent employment. A thorough analysis of the literature on enterprise, entrepreneurship, and business formation supports this point of view. The European Union's guidelines also touch on this subject. (see Best action plan and green paper on entrepreneurship and action plan to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness), which lists the key objective of promoting entrepreneurship across the educational system from elementary school to university.
The impact of general education on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity is evaluated or measured by a review of recent research, and recommendations for broad generalisations are provided. An abundance of evidence suggests that entrepreneurship and education are positively correlated. "It's becoming evident that entrepreneurship, or some aspects of it, can be taught." Most imperial research indicates that entrepreneurial education can either teach it or at least encourage it. Additionally, through cultural and experiential channels, education and training may influence the acquisition of the entrepreneurial function. Therefore, it is imperative that the existing educational system foster the concept of an entrepreneurial culture.
The premise that formal entrepreneurship education influences students' views, determining their future career path and propensity for entrepreneurship as adults, is put out in works. As a result, the pedagogical approach should support students in making decisions and acknowledge that making errors is a natural part of learning. It should also emphasise the significance of creating a consistent framework for assessing, contrasting, and improving the entrepreneurship education programmes' designs. It is critical that educational institutions foster an environment that is conducive to entrepreneurship. Early on in the institution's curricula, entrepreneurial endeavours must to be incorporated and encouraged by school culture. Thus, enterprise education initiatives in higher schools have been proved to be significant for subsequent entrepreneurial ambitions, and primary, secondary, and tertiary schools have gained increased attention in the research on entrepreneurship education. It is thought that infancy and adolescence are the best times to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and to cultivate a favourable attitude towards it.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the Role of Locust of Control on the Start-Up Intention of Higher Institution Students.
1.2 Statement of Problem
An investigation showed that finding jobs for Nigeria's hordes of workers has remained difficult, even if the country is endowed with an admirable physical environment throughout the geopolitical zones. According to Afolabi et al. (2018), paid employment in Nigeria is woefully inadequate. The days of the government and businesses swooping the few grads with alluring offers are long gone, especially for those who graduated with the highest marks. It is depressing to discuss how the good old days, when graduates could choose their jobs, have given way to the current day, when university graduates have little chance of finding employment.
Despite being supported by research and accepted by the majority of universities, entrepreneurial education has not yielded the best results because learning has not been adapted to enhance personality traits that have been shown by research reports to be influential in driving entrepreneurial intentions. Hence, this study is conducted to investigate the role of locust of control on the start-up intention of higher institution students in Nigeria.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of Locust of Control on the Start-Up Intention of Higher Institution Students in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the entrepreneurial intention of students of higher institution;
- To evaluate the risk taking behaviour related to business start up intentions;
- To ascertain how much effect does self confidence have on start up intention; and
- To investigate the effects of locus of control on the start up intentions of the students.
1.4 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the entrepreneurial intention of students of higher institution?
- What is the effect of locus of control on the start up intention?
- Is risk taking behavior related to business start up intention?
- How much effect does self confidence have on start up intentions?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The important of this research work is to enable us expose the rudiment and encourage all categories of individuals willing to go into entrepreneurial intention.
It is also important to point out that no company or organization without challenges an so this research work enable us expose some if not all of this challenges facing entrepreneurial intentions and profound possible solutions.
Base on this research work, it will enable us create awareness regarding the various roles of entrepreneurial intention among the start up challenges in the society at large.
Finally, there is a common saying and I quote “knowledge is power” Thus this study can assist in combating unemployment rate in the society interchangeably with employment opportunities for the society at large.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The scope of this research is focused on the role of locus of control on entrepreneurial intentions among the students of higher institutions.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint:
The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint:
Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents:
A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
