Perceptions and Attitude towards Entrepreneurship Education Programme, and Employment Ambitions of Final Year Undergraduate Students in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This study was to determine the perceptions and attitude of graduating students towards entrepreneurship education, and how these affect their employment ambitions. Using a descriptive cross sectional design, a random sample of 340 final year undergraduates from Bayero University was studied. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16 statistical software. The students’ mean age was 23.5 ±2.2 years. Majority was single (87.1%), male (63.8%), and Hausa/Fulani (84.7%). Majority (85.0%) had good perception about entrepreneurship, although 58.8% opined that the course is inadequate, and should be course specific (72.1%). Up to 84.1% had negative attitude towards entrepreneurship. Only 52.9% aspired to be self reliant after graduation. Having good perception about entrepreneurship (p = 0.0001), negative attitude towards entrepreneurship (p = 0.002) and Hausa/ Fulani ethnicity (p = 0.04) were significant predictors of self employment ambition. Entrepreneurship Education for Nigerian Universities should be repackaged based on specific entrepreneurial areas and with built-in logistic support.