Entrepreneurial characteristics amongst university students: insights for understanding entrepreneurial intentions amongst youths in a developing economy

Abstract

PurposeThis study focussed on investigating the impact of entrepreneurial characteristics on the entrepreneurial intention of university students in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopted a survey research design via a well-constructed questionnaire. The study's sample size consisted of 354 aspiring student entrepreneurs.FindingsThe result from the statistical analysis revealed that the entrepreneurial characteristics, especially risk tolerance, the need for achievement and the locus of control (LoC) significantly influence students' entrepreneurial intentions.Research limitations/implicationsOne implication of this study is that risk tolerance has a positive influence on the ability to identify business opportunities. Thus, when persons pay adequate attention to tolerating risks, they have more chances of identifying business opportunities. Despite the valuable contribution made by this research, an important area of future research is to carry out investigations that use a more robust sample size and a multivariate analysis to identify the impact of entrepreneurial competencies on entrepreneurial intentions of university youths from a cross-country perspective amongst developing economies.Originality/valueThere are very little understanding and empirical evidence about how the entrepreneurial characteristics of the youths, especially those in the formal university system of developing countries like Nigeria, can determine and direct their intentions to venture into entrepreneurship endeavours. This study, therefore, undertakes an interventionist role to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics and entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Nigeria.