Abstract

The paper uses eclectic entrepreneurship theories to identify and develop strategies aimed at creating passion and arousing entrepreneurial interests among Nigerian academics and graduates. The concern of the paper stems from the fact that most graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions are seen milling around private and public establishments seeking for both solicited and unsolicited job opportunities as if being self employed is a crime. The University and the academics hardly look outside the box to see investment and research yearning opportunities that could robustly create streaming funding. The paper sees entrepreneurship as the process of generating sound investment ideas and the applications thereof. Consequently, entrepreneurs are discussed as those who exhibit rare and sound investment ideas and who characteristically take the ideas to the industry where values are infused. Descriptive survey design using conversation and discourse analyses was adopted. The major finding of the paper is that there is significant lack of a workable model that reflects the Nigerian ecosystem in terms of appropriately utilizing academic intellectual potentials and as well inculcating entrepreneurial spirits into the undergraduates at all levels. The implication of this is that graduates leave the university system without a vision and /or an idea of how to create job opportunities. As a result of the findings, the paper suggests the establishment of incubation centers, entrepreneurship clubs, role model interactions and mentoring among others in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

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