Abstract

This study investigated what was more important in developing students’ entrepreneurial intention between digital competences and entrepreneurship education in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted in the study. The population of the study was 421 consisting of final year business students in tertiary institutions in the South South Zone of Nigeria while its sample size was 205. The questionnaire served as the main instrument for data collection. The instrument achieved a 74.15% response rate. Data analysis was done with percentage and regression methods. Findings of the study indicated that students of tertiary institutions of Nigeria offered entrepreneurship education as a course of study. However, the entrepreneurship education as presently delivered did not meet the expectations of the learners, hence failed in commanding entrepreneurial intention. Findings also indicated that digital competences were more influential hence has the potential to boost learners’ entrepreneurial intentions. It was concluded that digital competences were more likely to trigger increased entrepreneurial intention. It was recommended that entrepreneurship educators in tertiary institutions in Nigeria should be made to undergo capacity building training in digital competences to enable them transfer same to their students. It was also recommended that there was an urgent need for tertiary institutions in Nigeria to develop a new entrepreneurship education curriculum tailored to meet the emerging digital opportunities in the world. It was further recommended that policy makers in education should consider creating supportive entrepreneurship ecosystem to enhance digital skills impartation in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

KEYWORDS: Digital Competences, Entrepreneurship Education, Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention, Tertiary Institutions, Nigeria