Agropreneurship intentions among agricultural and entrepreneurship graduates in Nigeria

Abstract

It is clear that despite the self-acclaimed giant of Africa by Nigeria and Nigerians and being the highest oil-producing nation in Africa, Nigeria has been unable to translate its oil wealth into raising the living standard for her growing population. This study investigates the Agropreneurship intentions among agricultural and entrepreneurship graduates in Nigeria. The study adopted a qualitative research design with six participants. A telephone interview was used to source the relevant data from the respondents. Data generated were transcribed, reviewed, and harmonized. Thematic categories were formed and categorized into two major themes- Prime factors dissuading students' involvement in agriculture and the strategies to improve students' involvement in agriculture. The study revealed that graduates are not still willing to engage in agribusiness owing to several factors such as lack of land for farming, lack of funds, and adequate support from the government which has mitigated their participation in agribusiness. It was also found that strategies like making the agribusiness more interesting by providing the needed support from the government and other stakeholders will help in revamping the agribusiness for the graduates to engage in the agribusiness as a means of livelihood. The study, therefore, recommended that Universities’ curricula should be more practical than theoretical in the teaching and learning of Agriculture and entrepreneurship thereby catching the youth young in Nigeria. Government should provide the needed fund and land for meaningful agricultural practice as this will help build the agribusiness mindsets of young graduates in Nigeria.