AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-EFFICACY AND THE INTENTIONS OF SME OWNERS IN VENTURE CREATION IN EDO STATE.

This study aimed at exploring the entrepreneurial self-efficacy of SME Owners and their intents towards venture creation in Edo State. The study specifically examined the influence of self-efficacy on the perceived desirability and perceived feasibility of SME Owners in Edo State. This study considered survey research design. For this study, multistage sampling technique was adopted. Owner/managers of SMEs were surveyed. The sample size of 336 was chosen. The data that were generated for the study were analysed using both descriptive and multiple regressions. Finding showed that self-efficacy has strong influence on the perceived desirability of SME Owners in Edo State. Finding further showed that self-efficacy has strong effect on perceived feasibility of SME Owners in Edo State. The study recommended that entrepreneurship programmes in Edo State should be design in such a way that entrepreneurial self-efficacy will be a priority, and SME owners should strive for improved entrepreneurial self-efficacy so as to sustain their perceived feasibility of SME Owners in Edo State.