Pages: 6-19

Abstract

In the literature on entrepreneurship and those who make good entrepreneurs, empirical support is divided on whether personality profile of an entrepreneur should be established and whether such profile can hold its ground given that entrepreneurial abilities and aptitude as well as business success are both affected by environmental factors. Regardless of this debate, scholars have been consistent in empirically validating the link between certain personality traits and entrepreneurship abilities, business creation and business success as well as ability to benefit from entrepreneurship training. Furthermore, entrepreneurial abilities of people in a nation have been equally traced to increased economic growth and technological advancement as well as the competitive advantage of such a nation in the world economy. Given the above reasons, it was the position of this study, that the precarious economic situation of the country presently and the resulting solutions centered around wealth generation through encouraging entrepreneurship activities in the Nigerian populace should also take into consideration personality testing in order to clearly identify those who can benefit from entrepreneurship endeavours and training. This study therefore sets to extend the literature on the personality profile of the entrepreneur bringing evidence from Nigeria. Achievement motivation defined as “behaviour towards competition with a standard of excellence” (McClelland, 1953) emerged as one of the personality traits that have been consistently linked to entrepreneurship and business success; the study therefore compared entrepreneur and non-entrepreneur on this trait. A total of 96 (48 entrepreneurs and 48 salary-paid workers) participants selected through convenience sampling responded to Herman's (1970) nine dimensions of Achievement Motivation Questionnaire adapted by Eyo (1986).The result of t-test comparison showed entrepreneurs to be higher in global achievement motivation than non-entrepreneurs. Comparison on each of the nine dimensions only yielded significance for four of the nine dimensions which were achievement behaviour, persistence, task tension and time perspective. Female entrepreneurs also had higher aspiration level than male entrepreneurs. The implication of this findings were discussed in relation to fostering entrepreneurship in Nigeria for sustainable development and international competitiveness.