Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Confidence Among Students of Kwara State University

Despite the increased focus on entrepreneurial skills teaching and learning experiences, students find it challenging to apply them effectively and independently in the real world. Most students are not fully endowed with practical experience, thus preventing the overall improvement of their entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence. This research explores the relationship between skill acquisition and entrepreneurial confidence of students at Kwara State University. This study adopted a descriptive research design, and data were collected using a closed-question structured questionnaire with a closed-ended Likert scale of five points. From a population of 250 students, 154 samples were drawn from Taro Yamane’s formula and a simple random sampling method was used to administer the questionnaires. The analysis was performed using multiple regression analysis. The findings showed that both entrepreneurial and soft skills development accounted for 69.7% of the total variation in entrepreneurial confidence (F = 188. 15, R² = 0.701). ANOVA results confirmed the model: F = 444.937, p < 0.05. The study's results reveal that entrepreneurial skills, with a regression coefficient of B = 0.134, contribute moderately to confidence. Still, the role of soft skills, B = 0.755, is even more significant. These results support the importance of considerable skill training and discover that generic skills, which have become prominent in communication, adaptability, and emotion management, significantly enhance confidence, which is central to the entrepreneurial process. The study, therefore, recommends that to improve entrepreneurial confidence, there is a need to enhance both technical and soft skills training interventions.