Entrepreneurial Competencies of Library and Information Science Undergraduates in Nigeria

Abstract

Increasingly, undergraduates in Nigerian universities are required to undergo compulsory training in entrepreneurship education to develop skills that could lead to job creation, economic growth, and enhance their employability upon graduation. However, despite the significance attached to entrepreneurship education in Nigeria, little is known about the entrepreneurial competencies of Library and Information Science undergraduates in Kwara State. The sample included 412 Library and Information Science undergraduates from three purposively selected universities in Kwara State. The findings revealed that the respondents were aware of various entrepreneurial opportunities within the Library and Information Science discipline. Some identified entrepreneurial competencies of the respondents included initiative, creativity and innovation, integrity, and communication and networking skills, among others. The study recommends that university management should improve the infrastructural facilities available for entrepreneurship education in their respective institutions to enhance the training and practical experience that undergraduates receive. Additionally, university management needs to increase funding for entrepreneurship education. This improvement would significantly encourage and boost undergraduates’ participation in the programme.