ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Artificial Intelligence-driven entrepreneurship skills on entrepreneurial mindset development among students in Nigerian universities. The study was motivated by the growing need to equip university graduates with digital entrepreneurial competencies to address graduate unemployment, promote innovation, and support sustainable economic development in Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which Artificial Intelligence-driven entrepreneurial skills influence the development of entrepreneurial mindsets and assessed their effects on creativity, innovation, opportunity recognition, resilience, and entrepreneurial confidence among students in Nigerian universities. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study population comprised undergraduate students from selected federal, state, and private universities across Nigeria, while a sample of 720 respondents was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Artificial Intelligence-Driven Entrepreneurship Skills and Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Questionnaire (AIDESEMDQ). The instrument was validated by experts, and its reliability was established using Cronbach's alpha. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while Simple Linear Regression Analysis was employed to test the hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that Artificial Intelligence-driven entrepreneurship skills exerted a very high influence on entrepreneurial mindset development (Grand Mean = 4.32) and significantly enhanced creativity, innovation, opportunity recognition, resilience, and entrepreneurial confidence (Grand Mean = 4.34). Regression analysis further showed a significant positive influence of Artificial Intelligence-driven entrepreneurship skills on entrepreneurial mindset development (R = 0.815, R² = 0.664, F = 1418.563, p < 0.05). The study concluded that integrating Artificial Intelligence into entrepreneurship education is essential for developing entrepreneurial mindsets and recommended curriculum reform, improved digital infrastructure, AI innovation laboratories, and strengthened university-industry collaboration.