Abstract
This study examines the factors impacting entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Africa, focusing on the roles of psychological traits, demographic variables, and entrepreneurial education. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 230 students from different African countries, predominantly from South Africa (46.9%), Zimbabwe (11.2%), and Zambia (6.6%). The findings reveal that Risk-Taking Propensity is the strongest psychological predictor of entrepreneurial intentions, suggesting that students who are willing to take financial and career risks are much more likely to pursue entrepreneurship. While factors like Opportunity Recognition, Proactiveness, Innovativeness, and Entrepreneurial Orientation are significant, they do not substantially predict entrepreneurial intentions, indicating that external barriers, such as financial constraints and the level of institutional support, play a critical role in business development. Moreover, age and gender influence the relationship between entrepreneurial traits and intentions, revealing that older and female students are less likely to act on these traits. Additionally, entrepreneurial training is shown to be an important facilitator; students who have undergone such training are considerably more inclined to exhibit entrepreneurial intentions. However, there is a significant gap in entrepreneurial education, with 54.5% of students lacking exposure to business or entrepreneurship training. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, particularly in resource-constrained environments. By integrating psychological constructs, demographic factors, and educational aspects, this study deepens the understanding of entrepreneurial intentions in African university students and offers important recommendations for policymakers and educators to enhance entrepreneurial engagement in the region.