PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AMONG BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS IN OGUN STATE-OWNED UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This study examined psychological traits and entrepreneurial skills as determinants of vocational business intention among business education undergraduate students in Ogun State-owned universities. The objectives were to: examine the relationship between psychological traits and entrepreneurial intentions;determine the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurial intentions; and investigate the difference between male and female entrepreneurial intentions of business education undergraduate students.

A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised all business education students in Ogun State-owned universities, while a sample of 1,000 students across 100 to 400 levels was selected using simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire was employed for data collection. Three hypotheses guided the study and data were analyzed using regression, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and independent t-test at 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that psychological traits had a significant relationship with entrepreneurial intentions of business education students. Similarly, entrepreneurial skills significantly influenced students’ entrepreneurial intentions. However, there was no significant difference between male and female students’ entrepreneurial intentions.

The study concluded that both psychological traits and entrepreneurial skills are critical determinants of vocational business intentions among business education undergraduate students. It was therefore recommended that universities should create enabling environments that promote entrepreneurial skills acquisition, while also offering mentorship and training programs to build students’ confidence, resilience, and creativity. Students should also be encouraged to participate actively in entrepreneurship workshops and training in order to enhance their vocational intentions and future career opportunities.