Self Esteem and Achievement Striving on Entrepreneurial Aspiration among the Nigerian Youths: Implications for Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract

The resurgence of entrepreneurship in the late twenty century has made it the focus of the global economic community. In fact, the developing nations are tending towards entrepreneurship economy. The potency of entrepreneurship is quite heavy while its resultant effects cannot be ignored. The contribution of this economic driver towards national development is significant and its incremental impact on nations’ GDP cannot be undermined. Fostering entrepreneurship is vital in every part of the world. Supporting youth entrepreneurial aspiration in developing countries with education, motivation, mentorship and encouragement is a critical pathway to stimulate the creation of sustainable livelihoods. Thus, identifying and labeling the psycho-social predictors of entrepreneurial aspiration is germane. Three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and were analysed with multiple regression statistical method at 0.05 level of significance. Hence, this study investigates entrepreneurial aspiration among the Nigerian youths focusing on the relative and composite contributions of self esteem and achievement striving. Adopted and modified and revalidated instruments were administered on the four hundred (400) respondents sampled to participate in the study. The findings revealed that self esteem and achievement striving has both relative and composite contributions towards entrepreneurial aspiration of the respondents. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers recommend strategies such as mentoring of students by the established entrepreneurs in the industries; review of entrepreneurship education curriculum among others. These are expected to enhance the sustenance of entrepreneurial aspiration among the youths, using self esteem and achievement striving as predictors.

Keywords:      Entrepreneurial Aspiration, Self-Esteem, Achievement Striving, Youth.