Najafi Auwalu Ibrahim
Dept of Business Management, Bayero University, Kano
School of Business and Entrepreneurship, American University of Nigeria, Yola
Dept of Business Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Rwanda
Abstract
The continuous rise in youths’ unemployment rate and its severe consequences for the growth and development of the country are alarming. This underscores the need to understand the factors capable of addressing this pressing issue. This conceptual paper explores how entrepreneurial competence (EC), entrepreneurial networks (EN), and entrepreneurship education (EE) influence entrepreneurial intentions (EI) among youths in Nigeria. Rooted in the Resource-Based View (RBV), it proposes a model where EC and EN shape EI, with EE as a moderating variable. The study addresses inconsistencies in prior findings and proposes a more context-sensitive framework for youth entrepreneurship in low-income settings. The framework has implications for research, educational policy, and programme design aimed at promoting sustainable entrepreneurship.
Keywords: Entrepreneurs’ network, Entrepreneurial Competence, Entrepreneurship education, Entrepreneurial intention