EXAMINING THE SOCIOLOGICAL INFLUENCE OF INFORMAL SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS AND THE HIDDEN CURRICULUM ON GRADUATE ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS IN NORTHWEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of sociocultural norms, family entrepreneurial background, religious and ethical beliefs, hidden curriculum exposure, and peer and social network influence on graduate entrepreneurial intentions among 378 final-year undergraduates from public universities across the Northwest states of Nigeria, using a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A validated instrument with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .79 was used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank-order correlations, and multiple linear regression. Results indicated that all five predictor variables significantly and positively predicted graduate entrepreneurial intentions. Peer and social network influence (β = .29, p < .001) and sociocultural norms (β = .27, p < .001) were the strongest predictors. The regression model explained 62% of the variance in graduate entrepreneurial intentions (R² = .62, adjusted R² = .61, F(5, 372) = 121.47, p < .001). The study concludes that entrepreneurial intention formation among Northwest Nigerian graduates is deeply embedded in sociological processes operating both outside and within the university, and recommends culturally embedded entrepreneurship education reforms and community-based entrepreneurship ecosystems.