Redirecting Betting Behavior into Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition Among Tertiary Institution Students in Osun State

Ojo Olaniyi Peter; Azeez Aminat Aderemi

doi:10.56201/ijssmr.vol.12no9.2026.pg832.846

📄 Download Paper

Redirecting Betting Behavior into Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition Among Tertiary Institution Students in Osun State

Ojo Olaniyi Peter, Azeez Aminat Aderemi

Abstract

It is common for tertiary students in Osun State to engage in sports betting, which hinders their ability to save money, concentrate on their studies, and achieve long-term economic stability. The present study examined whether acquiring entrepreneurial skills could provide a feasible alternative source of income for students in the state's higher institutions, with the aim of helping change their betting habits. We based this study on Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior using a descriptive survey setup. We surveyed 153 undergraduate and diploma students across public and private tertiary institutions in Osun State, selecting them through stratified random sampling. To collect data, we used the Betting Behaviour and Entrepreneurship Skills Questionnaire , which yielded a high reliability score Cronbach’s α = 0.84). We then analyzed the responses using simple frequencies, percentages, and descriptive statistics. Most respondents (59.5%) said they only bet occasionally. Sports betting took the top spot among active bettors, mainly because mobile platforms make it easy to access and financial hardship drives students to try their luck. Even so, when you look at what these students actually want, they clearly prefer learning practical entrepreneurial skills over gambling. 81% believed that entrepreneurship training could considerably reduce betting. 82.3% felt that entrepreneurial skills would lead to greater financial self-reliance. 79.7% stated that access to entrepreneurship training led them to redirect their income allowance towards productive activities rather than betting. These results indicate that students do not just accept entrepreneurship as an alternative set of skills but also view it as a more direct way to achieve the financial security that betting alone offers. When you learn real entrepreneurship skills, you gain a practical, lasting alternative to gambling. Higher education institutions, particularly the Federal College of Education, Iwo, must take direct action to support you. They should expand hands-on business training, set up business incubation hubs, offer small seed grants, and run practical financial literacy campaigns. Taking these steps will guide your economic choices toward building self-reliance rather than taking high-risk bets.

References

Adebayo, A. A., Ogunnaike, O. O., & Oyekanmi, O. A. (2019). Gambling behaviour and its socio-economic implications among Nigerian youths. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(2), 45–56. Adebayo, M. F., Adelakun, N. O., & Akintayo, A. I. (2026). Strengthening Teacher Education through Effective Monitoring and Supervision in Nigerian Colleges of Education. International Journal of Educational Management, 23(2), 37–47. Adediran, Y. O., Ajayi, O. O., & Fayemi, J. A. (2023). Impact Of Gambling on Youths’attitudes Towards Academic Hard Work in Odogbolu and Ijebu North Local Government Areas. Unilorin Journal of Lifelong Education, 7(1), 132-146. Adekunle, A., & Alade, A. (2023). Gambling and risky behaviours among undergraduates: Definitions, patterns, and implications. Journal of Guidance and Counselling Studies, 9(2), 112–128. Afolayan, A., Akor, P., Ayeni, A. W., Iwelumor, O., Arisukwu, O. C., Okolugbo, C. N., & Obende, E. (2023). Causes of sports betting and students’ attitudes towards sports betting: An appraisal in Osun State University, Nigeria. Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 6(1), 204–215. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. Ariyabuddhiphongs, V. (2011). Gambling and youth: Predictors of gambling behaviour and problem gambling among adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 27(2), 123–136. Audretsch, D. B. (2020). Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth. Oxford University Press. Britannica. (2026). Sports betting. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Browne, M., Langham, E., Rawat, V., Greer, N., Li, E., Rose, J., & Best, T. (2016). Assessing Gambling-Related Harm in Victoria: A Research Report. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. Calado, F., Alexandre, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Prevalence of adolescent gambling behaviour: A systematic review of recent research. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33(2), 397–424. Daniel, F. M., Ukoaka, B. M., Essien, E. A., Emeruwa, V. E., Obo, G. E., Ugorji, W. C., ... & Eyo, A. A. (2024). Youth sports betting and problem gambling in the global and Nigerian context: A review. Nigerian medical journal: journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 65(5), 547. Derevensky, J., & Gupta, R. (2018). Gambling problems in youth: Theoretical and empirical insights. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16(3), 595–612. Griffiths, M. D. (2010). Gambling addiction, risk and problem gambling. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8(1), 119–125. Hing, N., Russell, A., Tolchard, B., & Nower, L. (2016). Risk factors for gambling problems: An analysis by gender. Journal of Gambling Studies, 32(2), 511–534. Hisrich, R. D., Peters, M. P., & Shepherd, D. A. (2019). Entrepreneurship (10th ed.). McGraw- Hill Education. International Labour Organisation. (2020). Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020: Technology and the Future of Jobs. ILO. Kuratko, D. F. (2017). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process, and Practice (10th ed.). Cengage Learning. Man, T. W., Lau, T., & Chan, K. F. (2002). The competitiveness of small and medium enterprises: A conceptualisation with focus on entrepreneurial competencies. Journal of Business Venturing, 17(2), 123–142. Nabi, G., Liñán, F., Fayolle, A., Krueger, N., & Walmsley, A. (2017). The impact of entrepreneurship education in higher education: A systematic review and research agenda. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 16(2), 277–299. Omanchi, S. A., & Dannap, E. Z. (2024). Sports betting as a major gaming in the contemporary gambling industry in Nigeria: Example of Wukari local government area of Taraba state. Wukari international studies journal, 8(9), 175-184. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2017). Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2017. OECD Publishing. Peter, A. E., Abodunrin, T., & Inyang, A. A. (2026). Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition as A Predictor of Graduate Self-Employment Success in Akwa Ibom State. International Journal Research Publication Analysis. 2(7), 1-15. Saefullah, R., & Vaidyanathan, S. (2025). The impact of ease of digital access on the increase in online gambling cases among students. International Journal of EthnoSciences and Education Research, 5(2), 37–45. UNESCO. (2019). Education for Sustainable Development: Learning Objectives. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Wardle, H., Reith, G., Langham, E., & Rogers, R. D. (2019). Gambling and public health: We need policy action to prevent harm. BMJ, 365, l1807. World Bank. (2019). World Development Report 2019: The Changing Nature of Work. World Bank. World Health Organisation. (2014). Gambling: Health Impacts and Public Health Interventions. WHO Press.

Redirecting Betting Behavior into Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition Among Tertiary Institution Students in Osun State

Abstract

References

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH