Entrepreneurial Network Competencies And Social Entrepreneurial Intentions: Evidence From Fresh Graduates In South-East Nigeria

Abstract

This study seeks to determine how Entrepreneurial Networking Competencies (ENC) influence Social Entrepreneurial Intentions (SEIs) among young graduates in South-East Nigeria. Specifically it examines the moderating effect of Empathy (EMP), Self-efficacy (SE), Perceived Social Support (PSS) as well as Moral Obligation (MO) in this relationship. Little is known on the effect of networking competences in enhancing SEIs with limited resources, notwithstanding rising awareness of SEIs as a necessity for inclusive development. Employing purposive sampling technique and using a cross-sectional survey approach, 364 National Youth Service Corps members were selected from all the states in South-East Nigeria. Data collected from the participants were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Smart PLS 3.2.9.  Analysis shows that Cronbach’s alpha calculated value ranges between .74 and .99, CR value also ranges between .83 and .88 while Average Variance Extracted (AVE) value exceeds 0.60, which indicates that the instrument has a high reliability and validity. Results highlight that entrepreneurial networking competencies positively and significantly influenced SEIs (t = 8.433, β = 0.637, p < 0.001). Result further presents the value of moderate predictive accuracy as (R² = 0.406) while the value of relevance as (Q² = 0.122). Accordingly, the relationship was enhanced through the moderating effect of MO, SE, EMP and PSS, which indicates that SEIs among graduates is not just influenced by networking competencies but also by MO, SE, EMP and PSS. The study therefore concludes that for social entrepreneurship of young graduates to be improved in developing countries, there should be enhanced networking competence as well as enabling psychosocial factors. By incorporating the moderating variables in illustrating the effect of ENC on SEIs through these findings, thus planned behaviour theory is expanded.