Effect of Female Entrepreneurial Experience on Start-Ups of Educational Institutions: An Empirical Study of North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study evinced the cruciality of female entrepreneurial experience as a gainful propeller of start-up educational institutions in North-Central Nigeria. The focal aim of this study is to ascertain the effect of female entrepreneurial experience on start-ups specifically in the educational sector, which over the years recorded a tremendous influx of female entrepreneurs. A descriptive research design was adopted as the framework for this study and the population of the study comprised 43,470 female educators within the North-Central region of Nigeria. The Cochran sample size determination technique was used to obtain the sample size of 385 respondents. Bowley's allocation formula was adopted to determine the sample size of each North-Central state while simple random and purposive sampling was used to select participants. The questionnaires were structured in a 5-point Likert scale as a validity and reliability test was conducted to ensure their credibility. Data retrieved were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 statistical tool. The results of the regression analysis validated the data at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that socio-cultural expectations, exceptional economic support, social networking, innovation, and self-efficacy have a significant effect on the growth of educational institutions in North-Central Nigeria. Hence the study concludes that female entrepreneurial experience adversely affects the growth of educational institutions and start-ups in North-Central Nigeria. The study recommends that good government policies geared towards equal support of female entrepreneurs as endorsed by the liberal view of the feminist-based entrepreneurship theory.