AN ASSESSMENT OF GENDER RELATED FACTORS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine gender related factors and entrepreneurial intentions of students in selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It was as well focused on the barriers to male and female entrepreneurial activities in the selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria, to determine how effective entrepreneurship education is shaping the entrepreneurial intentions of female and male students in the selected tertiary institutions, examine how entrepreneurial intention of male and female students differ in the selected tertiary institutions; and to assess the gender stereotype for male and female students in the selected tertiary institutions.   Theoretical Framework: The common stereotypical view of females being submissive to their male counterparts is said to be clashing with the inherent nature of entrepreneurship intention, and the propensity towards launching an entrepreneurial business may be seen as an impairing factor for female students. In this sense, the paper has sought to systematically review various publications on gender related factors and entrepreneurial intentions of students of public tertiary institutions.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a cross-sectional survey method using a structured questionnaire. The study area comprised of selected public tertiary institutions in Southwest Nigeria. Six tertiary institutions were selected for the purpose of this study. Students that have participated in entrepreneurship education in the selected tertiary institution in Nigeria are the target population for the study. Data from 351 respondents were assessed based on gender related factors and entrepreneurial intentions of students in selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria using descriptive and inferential statistics.    Findings: The study found female students facing more barriers in balancing academic and entrepreneurial activities compared to male students. The study recommends that proper orientation should be given to students on the importance of entrepreneurship education and how it can help them to become self-employed after school and students should be properly oriented on barriers and gender stereotypes, and how it influence their entrepreneurial intentions.   Originality/Value: The study therefore concludes that the distribution of barriers is not the same across the two categories of gender. Meanwhile, balancing academic and entrepreneurial activities, bad state of the economy and lack of capital as well as access to funds were the most popular barriers to entrepreneurial activities among tertiary institution students in Nigeria. Entrepreneurship education has statistically significant influence on entrepreneurial intention of students in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Three gender based stereotypes: active and energetic, sensitive to the needs of others and prone to position were statistically significantly different between female and male students which are not sufficient for generalization in this study. Nevertheless, the level of entrepreneurial intention is the same across the two categories of gender.