ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND VENTURE INITIATIVES AMONG UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study explores the impact of entrepreneurship education on the venture
initiatives of university graduates in Northeastern Nigeria, focusing on graduates’ readiness to
engage in business, venture size, and business intentions. Northeastern Nigeria, which includes
states such as Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, has faced economic and
social challenges due to prolonged insurgency, with high graduate unemployment despite
annual outputs of over 600,000 graduates in Nigeria. Given this context, the study examines
the role of entrepreneurship education in fostering entrepreneurial intentions among graduates
residing in the region. Using a structured questionnaire adapted from the Global
Entrepreneurship Monitor and other sources, data was collected from a representative sample
of 1,200 graduates across Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states. Probit and negative binomial
regression models were employed to analyze the data, assessing the influence of variables such
as entrepreneurship theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and personal entrepreneurial
characteristics on venture engagement. The findings reveal that while male graduates and those
with high practical skills show a greater tendency to engage in ventures, other factors like age,
educational background, and satisfaction with the entrepreneurship education structure also
significantly impact graduates' entrepreneurial actions. Graduates from fields such as arts,
social sciences, and sciences display varying levels of engagement, influenced by their
educational experiences. The results highlight the importance of aligning entrepreneurship
education with practical skills development to encourage graduates’ active participation in
ventures, thereby addressing unemployment in Northeastern Nigeria.