A Longitudinal Study of Conditional Student Entrepreneurship in an Emerging Economy

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice · 2025 · Volume 49 · Issue 1

Abstract

This study explores how students from low-income families with no prior entrepreneurial experience engage in conditional student entrepreneurship (CSE). Longitudinal data from 30 undergraduates across two Nigerian public universities revealed that resource constraints and significant loss events threaten students’ educational pursuits. However, rather than dropping out to pursue unskilled jobs, the students opt for CSE to generate income and persist in their education. Through the findings, a model of CSE for financial stability was developed to shed light on an overlooked phenomenon in emerging economies. The findings contribute to academic, policy, and practical implications.

Keywords

conditional student entrepreneurship, micro-business, simultaneous education and entrepreneurship, student entrepreneurs, start-ups

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