Perceived Barriers that Influence Graduating Degree Students to Engage in Rural Agripreneurial Activities in Lagos State

Abstract

Rural agripreneurship offers graduating students a route into self-employment, yet participation remains low despite repeated policy attention. This study assessed the attitude of graduating degree students towards exploiting and utilising agripreneurial opportunities in rural areas and evaluated the perceived barriers influencing their decision to engage in such activities after graduation. A descriptive survey design was used. Final-year students were drawn from the University of Lagos, Lagos State University and Lagos State University of Education through a multistage sampling procedure. Of the 301 questionnaires distributed, 287 were properly completed, giving a response rate of 95.4%. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages and weighted mean scores. Findings showed that respondents held a positive attitude towards rural agripreneurship, with a grand mean of 3.95 on a five-point scale. They agreed most strongly that exploiting rural agripreneurial opportunities is a worthwhile pursuit (mean = 4.07) and a sensible route to financial independence (mean = 4.05). Their weakest agreement concerned choosing agripreneurship over a conventional office job (mean = 3.79). On barriers, the grand mean was 1.28 on a scale of 0 to 2, indicating that all listed constraints were considered real. Limited access to start-up capital ranked highest (mean = 1.43), followed by poor rural infrastructure (mean = 1.36) and unpredictable agricultural returns (mean = 1.33). Social stigma attached to farming ranked lowest (mean = 1.14). The study concluded that students are willing but constrained, and that the main obstacles are financial and structural rather than attitudinal. Targeted financing, rural infrastructure investment and risk management support were recommended.