Personal Initiative, Social Networking And Entrepreneurial Inclination Among Disabled Students Of Tertiary Institutions In Plateau State.
- March 25, 2022
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: Business Administration, IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue II, February 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Palang Agbok Isaac1, Reuel Johnmark Dakung2, Habila Dogo Auta3
1,2,3Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria
Abstract: Entrepreneurship is vital in the areas of innovation, job creation, nations ‘economic and societal advancement. In view of that, Social networking is seen to be important in moderating the relationship between personal initiative and entrepreneurial inclination. This study focuses on investigating the moderating role of social networking on personal initiative and entrepreneurial inclination relationship of disabled students. The study followed a descriptive survey where quantitative approach was employed. Out of the total number of (210) questionnaires administered to disabled students across the five Tertiary Institutions (University of Jos, Plateau State Polytechnic, Plateau State University, College of Education Gindiri and Federal college of Education Pankshin) in Plateau State, Nigeria, two hundred and seven (207) were retrieved but only two hundred and three (203) were used for analysis after eliminating wrongly filled questionnaires by the respondents and the unit of analysis was at the individual level. Analysis of data involved the use of statistical package for Social Sciences SPSS version 23.0 and AMOS version 23. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation model. Results revealed that personal initiative (proactiveness, resilience and innovation) significantly and positively influences entrepreneurial inclination. Also, social networking does not moderate (Weakens) the relationship between personal initiative and entrepreneurial inclination of disabled students of Tertiary Institutions in Plateau State. The present study will help policy makers and government to give special attention to disabled students by encouraging innovativeness and proactiveness among them thereby boosting their entrepreneurial spirit. Also, the society should help encourage and support the disabled students through positive interaction and networking to help boost their entrepreneurial inclination. Like any other research, this study is limited in the following ways. Since only a single research methodological approach was employed, future research could undertake a mixed approach and triangulate to validate the current findings. Further, a longitudinal approach should be employed to study entrepreneurial inclination trends among disabled students over years.
Key words: Entrepreneurial Inclination; Social Networking; Disability; Personal Initiative,
I. INTRODUCTION:
Entrepreneurship practice among normal persons as well as physically challenged persons is crucial in enhancing the economy of a nation. The intention of persons with disability to participate in entrepreneurship activities varies from developed to developing society. For instance, in Australia, about 60% of persons with disabilities develop intentions and eventually go into entrepreneurship activities (Boellstorff, 2019; Dhar & Farzana 2017; Maritz et al., 2016 Renko etal., & 2015; Cooney, 2008). This is because of the availability of intervention programs such as Australian National Disability Strategy 2012–2020 and National Disability Insurance Scheme (Uribe-Toril etal., 2019; Clegg & Bigby, 2017; Hagner & Davies, 2002). In Nigeria the case is different given the fact that only few Persons with disabilities (25%) develop the intention to go into business or participate in entrepreneurship activities ( Dakung. R., Munene. J.C., Balunywa. W., Ntayi. J., & Ngoma. M. 2019). With the rise of unemployment rate of 33.3% in Nigeria according to bureau of statistics fourth quarter report (2020) due to COVID-19 pandemic, which according to GEM Report 2020/2021 has led to massive layoffs and closures in many countries thereby making persons with disability to be mostly affected, such that the barrier of marginalization/discrimination is high which has excluded them from engaging in entrepreneurial activities thereby making about 80% to be unemployed. (Stemple, 2020) established that entrepreneurs with disabilities face unique external business challenges to success, including unequal opportunities, limitations in infrastructure and facilities, unwanted pity, and lack of awareness about the disabled. Similarly, despite the substantive contribution of entrepreneurs with disabilities and the importance of ability and disability as a contextualizing influence, they face barriers in gaining access to self-employment. Again the theoretical development in understanding PWDs’ involvement in entrepreneurial activities in Nigeria is still lacking.
