Moderating Effect of Entrepreneurial Motivation on Entrepreneurial Intention Behaviour Gap among Fresh Graduates in Nigeria: A Proposed Model

Abstract

The current economic realities of countries around the world enduring economic hardship, high unemployment and poverty, have made entrepreneurial development widely acknowledged and highly emphasized globally, with particular emphasis on developing Countries like Nigeria. However, it is very worrisome that despite the level of entrepreneurial education and intention among young graduates in Nigeria, the level of entrepreneurial behaviour, like venture creation, is still low, as majority of graduates still end-up looking for white collar jobs after graduating. This study therefore, adopt a critical review of relevant literatures, to assess the moderating effect of entrepreneurial motivation on the entrepreneurial intention-behaviour gap among fresh graduates in Nigeria. Moreover, the study proposed to advance the dimensions of Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour, being a popular theory used in entrepreneurial intention research. Literature revealed that Attitude, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioural Control, and Entrepreneurship Education, are major determinants of entrepreneurial intention which precedes entrepreneurial behaviour. Though, there seems to be a missing link between entrepreneurial intention and behavour among fresh graduates in Nigeria, entrepreneurial motivation should moderate the relationship. This study, however, recommends that empirical research be conducted to validate the predictive model developed in the study