African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovations (AJeIN)

21st Century Work Environment and Contemporary Employability Skills among Millennia University Graduates

2024-07-18T07:21:53+00:00

Employability skills have transformed from the acquisition of university degrees to possessions of cognate skills other than only degrees that can help employees secure employment in contemporary work environments. This study evaluates essential skills that will prepare millennia of youths and graduates for employment in the present job market. The study investigated four major hypotheses to underscore the employability opportunities of graduates in challenging 21st-century work environments. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design to survey 310 millennial graduates and 110 recruitment managers and employers of labour in Lagos State on a probability random sampling basis. The study employed a multivariate, multiple-regression analysis to evaluate the postulated hypotheses. The study has established that emerging technologies, and technical, and professional skills are significant to the employability opportunities of millennia graduates in Nigeria. It demonstrated that cross-cultural competence, effective communication, and collaborative skills are predictors of employability opportunities for millennia graduates in Nigeria. The study has investigated that self-adaptive, intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial skills elevated the employability opportunities of millennia of graduates in Nigeria. It also established that emotional intelligence, teamwork, conflict resolution, and leadership skills enhanced the employability opportunities of millennial graduates in Nigeria. The study concluded that university degrees alone are not a golden ticket that guarantees employment for Nigerian graduates but emerging and soft skills do the wonders.

Key Words: Work Environment, Employability Skills, Millennia Graduates, Cross-cultural competence, emotional intelligence, Self-adaptive, Conflict resolution

Basic Entrepreneurial Skills for Business Startup to Promote Effective Post-Retirement Life Management among Pre-retirees in Universities in Edo State, Nigeria

2024-07-18T07:25:25+00:00

Post-retirement life challenges noticeable among retirees are appalling and the need for risk mitigation plan with entrepreneurship development became imperative. The study therefore, examined latent basic entrepreneurial skills possessed by pre-retirees and the need to stimulate their entrepreneurial intentions and tendencies towards business startup at post-retirement that would promote their effective post-retirement life management. Two research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted and the entire pre-retirees from both public and private universities in Edo State constituted the study population. Primary data was collected from 250 respondents through the use of a 25-item structured questionnaire which was analyzed using the descriptive statistical tool of mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed among others that most of the respondents possess latent basic entrepreneurial skills necessary for business startup which could be reawaken through various strategies such as conferences, symposia, workshop as pre-retirement counseling. It was recommended among others that employers and the government should initiate long term impactful pre-retirement counseling and training programme in entrepreneurship development that would stimulate pre-retirees’ latent entrepreneurial tendencies prior to retirement in universities in Edo State, Nigeria which would promote their effective post-retirement life management.

Key Words: Mitigation plan, Latent entrepreneurial skills, Entrepreneurial tendencies, starting a business at post-retirement, surmounting post-retirement life challenges

Exploring the Entrepreneurial Capability of Nigerian Universities for Future Roles: Study of Nigerian Universities

2024-07-18T07:28:35+00:00

In an era where universities are expected to play a key role in driving innovation and economic growth, this study focuses on the entrepreneurial capabilities of academics and academic departments at a foremost university in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. By surveying 298 faculty members from 79 departments, the research sheds light on the level of entrepreneurial engagement and the support system for entrepreneurship within the university. The findings reveal that there are limited entrepreneurial activities among academics and departments, primarily due to the lack of entrepreneurial skills among academics, and perceived inadequacies in university support systems and infrastructure. Individual and institutional barriers further hinder entrepreneurial endeavours. This study contributes to the literature on African Academic Entrepreneurship by providing empirical evidence on the challenges and opportunities facing universities in Africa. The results underscore the need for interventions to enhance entrepreneurial activities in higher education institutions, and offer recommendations for policy development and program implementation to foster entrepreneurship in academia.

Key Words: Academic Entrepreneurship, Departmental Entrepreneurial Capabilities, University Entrepreneurship Support System

Working Conditions and Job Satisfaction: Evidence from the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry

2024-07-18T07:31:37+00:00

This study investigated how physical working conditions and psychosocial working conditions impact on the job satisfaction of employees in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Data was drawn from 200 full time employees randomly selected from the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited, Benin City, a state-owned integrated oil and gas company. Retrieved data was analyzed using mean, mean index and multiple regression analysis. While physical and psychosocial working conditions were found to be adequate, they also positively and significantly impacted job satisfaction of employees. This study recommends that Nigeria National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited, Benin City and other oil and gas firms in Nigeria should regularly appraise working conditions provided for employees and engage research to carry out independent analysis and help to provide relevant data for informed decision making and sustainability of the sector.

Key Words: Working Conditions, Job Satisfaction, Nigeria, Oil Industry, Gas Industry