African Journal of
Business Management

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Bus. Manage.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1993-8233
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJBM
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 4196

Full Length Research Paper

Spinning off an entrepreneurship culture among Nigerian University Students: Prospects and challenges

  Amuseghan Sunday Adejimola1* and Tayo-Olajubutu Olufunmilayo2
  1Department of Arts Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State,  Nigeria.    2Department of Counselling and Educational Management, Faculty of Arts and Education, Adekunle Ajasin University,  Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 February 2009
  •  Published: 30 March 2009

Abstract

 

The re-engineering of the Nigerian economy in the presence of available resources and business 
opportunities has attracted serious attention in recent times. The colonial mentality in the first 
generation of graduates in Nigeria, which was deep-rooted in the Golden Fleece and certificate frenzy, 
influenced the limited spirit of entrepreneurship. Among the dead and surviving industries in Nigeria, 
the captains of these industries are semi-literate entrepreneurs. This paper adopts a case study of the 
Nigerian university system in re-positioning the economic development and entrepreneurial drive for 
job creation, wealth creation and global competitiveness of Nigerian youths/graduates. The main thrust 
of the paper is the emphasis on the marriage between theories and practical which the research and 
development centres in the universities should serve as technological incubators and entrepreneurship 
drive. The introduction of entrepreneurship education as a compulsory course in the Nigerian 
university system is seen as a measure to address the problem of graduate unemployment and 
strategically position the economy for leadership in Africa. It is recommended that the Nigerian 
ecosystem must be harnessed before meaningful entrepreneurship development can take place. The 
paper concludes that curriculum review, sensitization, advocacy and mobilization of support for 
entrepreneurship education, programme focus and funding together with the political will and stability 
of the government should be provided for entrepreneurship culture and development.  
 
Key words: Spinning off, entrepreneurship, strategies, cultures, incubators.