Exposure to Entrepreneurial Activities and the Development of Entrepreneurial Culture

Abstract

Exposure to prior entrepreneurial activities has been found by many studies to influence people’s mindset towards starting their own businesses. However, while much research on exposure to prior entrepreneurial activities have been carried out in terms of family businesses, limited research have focused on the use of entrepreneurial exposures through trade fairs and entrepreneurial events carried out by government agencies to aid the development of entrepreneurial culture. Using a descriptive study, 195 participants of entrepreneurship programmes offered by the government in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria were examined and findings reveal that to a large extent, exposing individuals to entrepreneurial activities using trade fairs and entrepreneurial events does aid in the development of entrepreneurial culture in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. The findings contribute new knowledge to the entrepreneurship literature in terms of the use of trade fairs and entrepreneurship events to stimulate business startups.