ROLE MODEL AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

This research work examined role model as a panacea for arousing positive attitude toward entrepreneurship. The
research considered undergraduates of federal universities in South-West, Nigeria. The population of the study
consisted of 24,282 students in their fourth year in federal universities in South-West Nigeria. A sample of 1673
students in their fourth year was used in the study. The study adopted stratified random sampling technique and a
structured questionnaire with 6-point Likert scale was used for data collection. Result of the study showed that role model has a significant effect on attitudes towards entrepreneurship among students of federal universities in SouthWest, Nigeria. (R = 0.553; R2 = 0.306; β = 0.721; F (1/1671) = 736.375; p<0.05), The study recommends that government through the federal ministry of education should aid the federal universities in South-West Nigeria in establishing stronger linkages with role models and business organizations nationwide and connect them with their students in order to help the undergraduates to establish greater exposure to the real world of business. Furthermore, academia through the faculty members should systematically incorporate the role model phenomenon into the curriculum.