ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS INTENTION TO ADOPT DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A STUDY OF SELECTED STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS IN NASSARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In today’s technological era, digital entrepreneurship is critical in driving innovation and economic growth. This study examines the role of individual entrepreneurial orientation in predicting digital entrepreneurship among some selected polytechnic students and graduates with rural origin and entrepreneurs in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Using probability sampling the data was collected among 382 selected polytechnic students and graduates with rural origin and entrepreneurs from 3 Senatorial Zones in the State. Individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) is measured using three dimensions; risk-taking, proactiveness and innovativeness. SPSS version 25 was employed to assess both measurement (reliability and validity) and structural (hypotheses testing) models and the result supports all the three hypothesized relationships. Specifically, the finding depicts that risk-taking; proactiveness and innovativeness significantly predict intention to adopt digital entrepreneurship. The finding support both Theory of Planned Behaviour and technology Acceptance models. By examining the intention to adopt digital entrepreneurship by selected polytechnic students and graduates with rural origin and entrepreneurs, this study fill the existing gap and contributes to the body of knowledge in the digital entrepreneurship literature. Overall, the study contributes to the landscape of e-business and digital trade literature and by improving our understanding of the factors driving individuals’ intentions to engage in digital entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the results offer significant perspectives for decision-makers in government, academia, and businesses.