Infopreneurship and Technopreneurship Readiness for Job Creation Among Nigerian Library and Information Science Graduates

Authors

  • Abdulakeem Sodeeq Sulyman Department of Library and Information Science, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • Florence Olabisi Ajani Deputy University Librarian, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria
  • Adetoun Omolola Idowu Department of Library and Information Science, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
  • Ibrahim Bamidele Badmus Ojaja University, Ilorin, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70112/ajist-2024.14.2.4278

Keywords:

Infopreneurship, Technopreneurship, Job Creation, Library and Information Science (LIS), Readiness for Entrepreneurship

Abstract

It has been established in studies that infopreneurship and technopreneurship are potent avenues for job creation in the 21st century. This study explores infopreneurship and technopreneurship readiness for job creation among Nigerian Library and Information Science (LIS) graduates. It raises three objectives and corresponding questions. This study uses a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consists of 268 LIS graduates who were willing to participate by completing a questionnaire designed using Google Forms, which was distributed through various WhatsApp platforms for librarians. Data obtained were analyzed using tables, frequency counts, percentages, and means (????̅). Findings revealed that respondents are highly ready to create jobs through research services and current awareness services (????̅ = 3.43), as well as information repackaging (????̅ = 3.36). Similarly, the respondents indicated a high readiness to create jobs through digital publishing (????̅= 3.24), social media management (????̅ = 3.16), and operating cyber cafés (????̅= 3.00). Barriers to the respondents’ readiness include poor internet bandwidth (????̅= 3.49), the unstable cost of living (????̅ = 3.48), inadequate sources of capital (????̅ = 3.46), unfavorable government policies (????̅= 3.40), and insufficient local technological industries that could be leveraged for technopreneurship (????̅= 3.37). This study concludes that Nigerian LIS graduates are highly ready to create jobs through infopreneurship and technopreneurship. The study recommends that Nigerian ministries, bodies, and agencies, such as the Ministry of Digital Economy, Information, the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), prioritize training for both practicing and potential info/technopreneurs.

References

Adetayo, A. J., & Hamzat, S. A. (2021). Infopreneurship and financial satisfaction among library professionals in tertiary institutions in Ede, Osun, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 4749. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4749

Adetayo, A. J., Suleiman, A. I., & Olajire, A. M. (2022). Leveraging digital infopreneurship for financial well-being of academic librarians: The Nigerian perspective. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 6652. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/6652

Ahmed, Y. O., & Sulyman, S. A. (2022). Assessment of students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurship development initiatives in Kwara State University, Malete (Case study of Faculty of Communication and Information Science). Library Philosophy and Practice, 7564.

Ahmed, Y. O., Yusuf, T. I., Mahammuod, S. O., & Jimoh, O. J. (2024). An assessment of entrepreneurial skills of LIS students in Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria. Journal of Library Services and Technologies, 6(1), 40-48. https://doi.org/10.47524/jlst.v6i1.41

Akinyele, S. T., Akinyele, E. F., & Joseph, A. D. (2021). Technopreneurship and performance of women entrepreneurs ins mall scale enterprise: A study of selected firms in Ado Odo Ota. International Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 2(4), 149-172.

Ali, S. (2021). The importance, challenges, and issues of infopreneurship training for library and information science students. Jewel Journal of Librarianship, 16(2), 7-15.

Aregbesola, A., Van der Walt, T., Owolabi, T., Idiegbeyan-Ose, J.,Okocha, F., & Eyiolorunshe, T. (2019). Infopreneurship in adeveloping country: Opportunities and challenges. IOP ConferenceSeries: Materials Science and Engineering, 640, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/640/1/012123

Arowosola, O., Musa, K., Lamidi, B. O., Ochai, J., & Adam, H.(2022). Awareness and relevance of infopreneurship among library and information sciences (LIS) students at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 7087. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/7087

Babalola, G. A., Adamu, S. M., Aji, K. O., Fati, A., & Shekarau, M. I. (2018). Reinvigorating Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum in a fast-changing society. Information Impact: Journal ofInformation and Knowledge Management, 9(4), 63-72.https://doi.org/10.4314/iijikm.v9i4.6

Burton, C. (2022). What is an infopreneur? Opportunities & examples.https://www.thinkific.com/blog/what-is-an-infopreneur/

Chukwudi, J. H., Nwosu, J. C., & Simisaye, O. A. (2017). Freelance librarianship: A source of income for unemployed library andinformation science graduates. International Journal of AdvancedLibrary and Information Science, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.23953/cloud.ijalis.317

Fowosire, R. A., Idris, O. Y., & Elijah, O. (2017). Technopreneurship: A view of technology, innovations, and entrepreneurship. Global Journal of Researches in Engineering (F), 17(7), 40-46.

Friday, J., & Sawyer-George, O. (2023). Practice of infopreneurshipby librarians in public university libraries in South-South Nigeria. Evidence-Based Library and Information Practice, 18(3), 26-52. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip30235

Harlanu, M., & Nugroho, A. (2015). The importance of technopreneurship management model for vocational school. In The 3rd UPI International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), 147-150.

Horsfall, M. N. (2023). Librarians as change agents for sustainable library and information service delivery in a digital society.Information Impact: Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 14(1), 113-125. https://doi.org/10.4314/iijikm.v14i1.7

Khumalo, N. B., & Nkala, G. S. (2015). The importance of infopreneurship training for records and archives management students in Zimbabwe. Journal of the South African Society of Archivists, 48. http://doi.org/10.129273-350043-1-PB

Mashingaidze, S. (2016). Technopreneurship (entreprenology) as the Holy Grail of SMEs growth: A historical analysis. Environmental Economics (open-access), 7(3). https://doi.org/10.21511/ee.07(3).2016.08

Nweze, C. A. (2018). Utilization of ICT facilities for quality teaching and learning in the 21st century: An overview of public secondary schools in Rivers State. African Journal of Educational Research and Development (AJERD), 11(2), 215-229.

Obiukwu, C. P., & Onuoha, B. C. (2022). Technopreneurship and growth of new tech companies in Nigeria. International Academy Journal of Management Annals, 6(2), 56-72. https://doi.org/10.272142562624

Ofodu, P. N., & Whong, F. M. (2024). Information entrepreneurship freelancing in library and information science for enhancing employment career opportunities for librarians. International Journal of Information Resource Management (IJIRM), 1(1), 1-15.

Otamiri, S., & Ogwe, C. G. (2020). Technopreneurship and youth empowerment in Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Business and Management, 8(5), 23-32.

Rahadi, D. R., Farid, M. M., Muslih, M., & Iskak, J. (2022). The roleof social media implementation as a human resource e-recruitment tool. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 26(1),233-240.

Ramugondo, L. S., & Ocholla, D. N. (2022). Can infopreneurship bean employment option for Library and Information Science students? Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies, 40(2), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-659X/9665

Salman, A. A., Ajani, F. O., & Sulyman, S. A. (2023). The nexus between professional ethics, competence, and emerging technologies on the sustainability of the LIS profession. Information Technology and Librarianship, 3(2), 59-76.

Taylor, D. (2020). Infopreneur business ideas to explore. https://www.fool.com/the-blueprint/infopreneur

Ujoumunna, J. (2021). Infopreneurial librarianship: A panacea forchartered librarians in Nigerian practices. Academia Letters, Article4112. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL4112

Downloads

Published

27-09-2024

How to Cite

Sulyman, A. S., Ajani, F. O., Idowu, A. O., & Badmus, I. B. (2024). Infopreneurship and Technopreneurship Readiness for Job Creation Among Nigerian Library and Information Science Graduates. Asian Journal of Information Science and Technology, 14(2), 27–33. https://doi.org/10.70112/ajist-2024.14.2.4278