Agripreneurship and Employment Creation: A Way to Reduce Unemployment among Youths of Southeast Nigeria
Ebele Mary Onwuka
Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Nkiru Peace Nwakoby
Department of Entrepreneurship Studies, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Obiora C. Ozoekwe *
Department of Entrepreneurship Studies, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In recent years, global unemployment—especially among youths—has risen, with developing countries. This study examined the influence of agripreneurship on employment creation among youths in Southeast Nigeria. The study population was comprised of youths from the ages of 18 to 35 across the five southeastern states, with a sample size of 400 respondents selected through stratified sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Multiple regression was used to test the formulated hypotheses. Findings revealed that: agripreneurial skill acquisition has a positive but non-significant effect on job creation (β = 0.084, p = 0.138); agripreneurial productivity has a positive and significant effect on job creation (β = 0.162, p = 0.004); agripreneurial education has a positive and significant effect on job creation (β = 0.133, p = 0.035); agripreneurial innovation has a strong positive and significant effect on job creation (β = 0.544, p = 0.000). Thus, the study recommended that educational institutions, including universities and vocational centers, should integrate practical agripreneurial courses into their curricula. This will equip students with the knowledge and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to establish and manage agribusinesses.
Keywords: Agripreneurship, employment creation, skill acquisition, agripreneurial productivity, agripreneurial education, capacity building