N. B. Okwechime

Bridging dreams and resources: Cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets through social capital in Nigerian higher institutions

This study investigates the role of social capital — specifically civic engagement and trust level — in cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets, proxied by risk-taking and innovativeness, among students in Nigerian higher institutions. With entrepreneurship increasingly recognized as a catalyst for national development, understanding the social conditions that foster entrepreneurial dispositions is vital. A sample of 150 students was selected using simple random sampling from various faculties across selected Nigerian universities. The study employed the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient to assess the relationship between elements of social capital and entrepreneurial mindset traits. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between civic engagement and risk-taking, as well as between trust level and innovativeness. These results suggest that students who actively participate in civic activities and exhibit higher levels of interpersonal trust are more likely to demonstrate entrepreneurial tendencies such as risk-taking and innovation.