The impact of ethnicity on entrepreneurship: A global review and lessons for Nigeria

Abstract

The impact of culture on entrepreneurship attitude has been subject of several studies all over the world and arguments have been proffered both ways. Unfortunately studies on the subject are rare in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria. This paper seeks to review and synthesize studies that allude to the impact of culture on entrepreneurial attitude, with a view to extending the findings to the entrepreneurial attitudes of Nigeria’s three major ethnic groups : Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. It is a literature survey type, identifying those attitudes in various cultures that bring out the best in each ethnic group’s entrepreneurship. It finds that positive cultural attitudes from all ethnic groups in a nation are worthy of emulation by the other ethnic groups for best practices in entrepreneurship. The study recommends that positive entrepreneurial cultural attributes identifiable among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria should be publicised for the benefit of all prospective Nigerians entrepreneurs.