Entrepreneurial motivation is crucial for translating goals into actions. This study investigates the correlation between entrepreneurial motivation and the intention of students to engage in entrepreneurship, with a focus on the mediating impact of economic motivation on this connection in Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional survey approach, with the discovered determinants being self-employment incentive variables. Using a random sampling approach, 417 responses were obtained from Nigerian university students in the southwestern and north-central areas. The data were examined using a method that involves breaking it down into components and structural equation modelling. This method is known as generalised structured component analysis (GSCA). The study found a noteworthy correlation between entrepreneurial motivation (the desire for achievement, the aspiration for independence, and the locus of control) and entrepreneurial intention. According to the study, economic motivation significantly mediate this relationship. To enhance entrepreneurial intentions, a focus on locus of control is crucial. Future research should explore other regions of the country.
Keywords: desire for independence, economic motivation, locus of control, need for achievement., self-regulatory theory
