Entrepreneurial Prospects of Animal Breeding and Genetics: The Perspectives of Undergraduates in Two Nigerian Universities

Abstract

The study explored the entrepreneurial prospects of animal breeding and genetics from the viewpoints of undergraduates at two Nigerian institutions. The study looked at how undergraduates perceive the potential for entrepreneurship in the fields of animal breeding and genetics; it determined whether they intend to pursue entrepreneurship in any of the identified fields of the discipline; and examined the relevance of the curriculum to the entrepreneurship knowledge needed to succeed in the fields; and identified the difficulties that these undergraduates might face in their entrepreneurial intention endeavors. The study adopted a qualitative methodology to explore the entrepreneurial prospects of animal breeding and genetics from the viewpoints of undergraduates at two Nigerian institutions.  30 undergraduate students from two universities were taken to represent the sample for the study. An open-ended survey created on Google form was used for the collection of data.  The link of the Google form was sent to the students’ platform in the Department of Animal Genetics in the two selected universities. The findings demonstrated that Animal Breeding and Genetics undergraduate students perceive the potential for entrepreneurship in animal breeding and genetics to be numerous including setting up animal clinic, animal breeding laboratory, establishing a poultry business, setting up a consultancy outlet on animal breeding and genetics, among others.  Majority of the undergraduate students indicate their intention to pursue entrepreneurship in animal breeding and genetics instead of looking for the white-collar jobs.  Furthermore, the current curriculum in Animal Breeding and Genetics in the two universities are very relevant to the fields and the knowledge they have gathered so far is enough to succeed if taking into entrepreneurship after the completion of the bachelor’s degree programme. The challenges envisaged by the respondents include lack of initial capital to setting up entrepreneurship business in Animal Breeding and Genetics, cooperation, understanding and support from parents and family members, government policy including registration of the business, among others. Data and information gathered through the administration of the open-ended survey was analysed thematically following the objectives of the study. The study drew it conclusion based on the findings from the study and also makes appropriate and relevant recommendations.