WILL ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCY AND ORIENTATION PREDICT ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION OF STUDENTS AT VERITAS UNIVERSITY, ABUJA?
The study examined the effect of entrepreneurial competency and entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intention of Entrepreneurship students at Veritas University, Abuja. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design approach, while the underpinning theory is the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Study population of 75 students comprising students offering degree courses in Entrepreneurship Studies (35) and five students each from the eight faculties at Veritas University selected at random (40). A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaires were administered through the face-to-face method. Only 56 of the administered questionnaires were returned and found useful for analysis. Data from the questionnaires were analysed with the aid of SPSS v26.0. The findings showed that both entrepreneurial competency and entrepreneurial orientation have a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial intention. The findings also showed that entrepreneurial capability, being the joint effect of entrepreneurial competency and orientation, has a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial intention, indicating that both entrepreneurial competency and orientation jointly have a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial intention. Although both entrepreneurial competency and orientation jointly have a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial intention, the role of entrepreneurial orientation in the combined model was negligible, meaning that only entrepreneurial competency is the predictor of EI in the combined model. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that universities should enhance entrepreneurship education by focusing on building core competencies through practical training, case studies, business simulations, and mentorship programs to equip students with the skills and abilities necessary for identifying opportunities and managing ventures effectively.
Keywords: Entrepreneurial orientation, Entrepreneurial competency, Entrepreneurial capability, Entrepreneurial intention, Nigerian university students