Barriers to Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition among Library and Information Science Undergraduate Students in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the barriers to the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills among Library and Information Science undergraduates in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised all the final year Library Information Science (LIS) undergraduates in University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The questionnaire tagged ''barriers to entrepreneurial acquisition (BESA)''was used for data collection. BESA was subjected to content validation by three (3) experts from the department of LIS and from measurement and evaluation unit, all from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). The instrument reliability was carried out with 20 final year students of LIS, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Cronbach Alpha method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument with correlation coefficient 0.97. A total of 87 copies of questionnaire were administered, out of which 81 copies were correctly filled and returned and used for the study. Data was analysed using Mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that LIS students acquired information management entrepreneurial skills more than other entrepreneurial skills. It also revealed that insufficient teaching facilities for practical sessions is the greatest challenge of entrepreneurial skills acquisition of LIS students. Based on the findings, it was recommended among other things that adequate provision of facilities for teaching and learning entrepreneurship courses should be