Analysis of Factors Influencing Business Education Graduates Transition to Self-Employment in Niger State

This study analyzed the factors influencing the transition of Business Education graduates to self-employment in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. The transition from formal education to entrepreneurship is a complex process shaped by personal, structural, financial, and environmental factors. In Niger State, despite government efforts to promote self-employment through various enterprise development initiatives, many Business Education graduates remain in the job market rather than establishing businesses. This study sought to identify the key predictors of successful self-employment transition. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 220 Business Education graduates in Niger State who had graduated within the past five years. Using purposive and accidental sampling, 110 graduates were selected, including both those who had transitioned to self-employment and those who had not. A validated questionnaire on transition factors and self-employment outcomes was used for data collection. Logistic regression and descriptive statistics were employed for analysis. Findings reveal that access to startup capital, family business background, entrepreneurship training quality, and risk tolerance are the most significant predictors of self-employment transition. Graduates who participated in business incubation programmes were twice as likely to have established a business. The study recommends that Niger State tertiary institutions should strengthen entrepreneurship incubation services and create preferential access to the Bank of Industry Youth Business Support Scheme for Business Education graduates. Keywords: self-employment transition, business education graduates, entrepreneurship, Niger State, graduate employment