Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation Capacity among Students of Federal College of Education Ididep, Ibiono, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Udeme Anthony Abaikpa; Rebecca Ekaette Nkereuwem; Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Ufot

doi:10.59413/eafj/v5.i3.2

Authors

Udeme Anthony Abaikpa University of Uyo Author
Rebecca Ekaette Nkereuwem Federal College of Education Ididep, Ibiono Author
Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Ufot University of Uyo Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59413/eafj/v5.i3.2

Keywords:

Entrepreneurial mindset, Innovation capacity, Edupreneurs, Teacher Education, Vocational Education

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial mindset—comprising creativity, proactiveness, risk tolerance, and opportunity recognition—and innovation capacity—encompassing idea generation, problem-solving skills, product/service innovation readiness, and overall innovation capability—among students at the Federal College of Education, Ididep, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A correlational survey research design was adopted, employing a census sampling technique to include all 89 students from the School of Vocational and Technical Education (Business Education and Agricultural Education departments). Data were collected using a structured "Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation Capacity Questionnaire" (EMICQ) and analyzed using simple percentages and simple regression via SPSS. The findings establish a significant, positive correlation between entrepreneurial mindset and innovation capacity, confirming that students with strong entrepreneurial traits are inherently more innovative. This validates the strategy of producing "edupreneurs"—future educators capable of transforming pedagogy, creating economic opportunities, and driving grassroots development. However, persistent systemic gaps in industry collaboration, finance, and mentorship were identified. The study recommends that the NCCE mandate compulsory entrepreneurship modules across all disciplines and shift to competency-based assessments; FCE Ididep establish an EdTech Innovation Hub, train lecturers, and forge industry partnerships; government create a dedicated Education-Enterprise Fund and innovation awards; and students proactively pursue lifelong learning and interdisciplinary collaboration to fully realize their innovative potential. This research provides empirical evidence from a Nigerian teacher-education context linking entrepreneurial mindset to innovation capacity, specifically among vocational and technical education students. It advances the "edupreneur" concept as a practical strategy for transforming pedagogy, fostering economic opportunity, and driving grassroots development within the broader TVET and higher education landscape in Nigeria.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abaikpa, U. A., Enang, I. B., & Udom, E.-O. E. (2026). The role of vocational and technical education in promoting small business startups in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Commercial Studies, 7(3), 278–286. https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.34 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.34

Abaikpa, U. A. (2025). Green environmental management and community sustainability in Exonmobil, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Commercial Studies, 6(5), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i5.11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i5.11

Abaikpa, U. A. (2025). Digital leadership and remote work management: A study of MTN, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Commercial Studies, 6(4), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i4.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i4.1

Aeeni, Z., Saeedikiya, M., Salamzadeh, A., & Salamzadeh, Y. (2024). Cognitions affecting innovation among generation Z entrepreneurs: The external enablement of digital infrastructure. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research. https://research.uok.ac.ir/~zaeeni/ViewResearchEn.aspx?ResearcherID=129934

Al-Mahrouqi, A., et al. (2025). Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and future skills: Innovative educational units for enhancing creative problem-solving in tenth-grade students. International Journal of Educational Development, 112, 103–118.

Bello, A. A., Raji, F. A., Adebayo, A. A., & Salami, A. A. (2025). Entrepreneurship education as a catalyst for skills competitiveness in technical colleges in Lagos State, Nigeria. The Vocational and Applied Science Journal, 19(2), 41–46.

Chen, M., Wu, L., Li, B., & Liu, Y. (2024). Behavioral patterns associated with solving ill-defined complex problems from a multidimensional perspective: Perception, cognition, metacognition, and motivation. Educational Technology & Society, 27(4), 171–190. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1443413

Cho, Y. S. (2025). A study on the relationship between problem-solving competence based on self-determination, optimism, and resilience in university students. Asia-Pacific Journal of Convergent Research Interchange, 11(10), 929–940. http://apjcriweb.org/content/vol11no10/63.html DOI: https://doi.org/10.47116/apjcri.2025.10.63

European Commission. (2021). EntreComp: The entrepreneurship competence framework. Publications Office of the European Union.

Farrokhnia, M., Noroozi, O., Baggen, Y., Lans, T., Biemans, H. J. A., & Pittaway, L. (2025). Fostering university students' entrepreneurial opportunity identification capability: A systematic literature review. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 9(1), 45–91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/25151274241309938

Gama, F., Sjödin, D., Parida, V., Frishammar, J., & Wincent, J. (2022). Exploratory and exploitative capability paths for innovation: A contingency framework for harnessing fuzziness in the front end. Technovation, 113, 102416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102416

Job, I. (2025, December 24). Akwa Ibom: Provost hails FG as Ididep COE matriculates 583 pioneer students. The Sun Nigeria. https://thesun.ng/akwa-ibom-provost-hails-fg-as-ididep-coe-matriculates-583-pioneer-students/

Koce, H. D. (2025). Industry 4.0 and youth empowerment: A TVET framework for fostering entrepreneurship and digital innovation in Nigeria. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship (ICSBE 2025), 278–291. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-930-8_20 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-930-8_20

Liadi, H. O. (2025). Assessing the impact of AI-driven tools on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among business education students in South-South Nigeria universities. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation, 3(1), 1–12.

Nikitina, T., Licznerska, M., Ozolina-Ozola, I., & Lapina, I. (2023). Individual entrepreneurial orientation: Comparison of business and STEM students. Education + Training, 65(3), 456–473. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-07-2021-0256

Ogunwoye, A. A., Oladele, O. O., Morakinyo, D. A., Fakunle, I. O., & Bankefa, I. O. (2025). A comparative analysis of the determinants of entrepreneurial motivation among undergraduates in public and private universities in Southwest, Nigeria. Future Business Journal, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-025-00611-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-025-00611-w

Wang, Z., Wei, L., & Wang, S. (2025). Navigating disruptive innovation through opportunity recognition: A configurational approach to team learning. Technovation, 144, 103236. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166497225000689 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103236