Abstract
The paper investigated the effect of metacognitive cultural intelligence on entrepreneurial growth among selected registered student enterprises in University of Ilorin. It specifically examined the effect of cognitive flexibility, cultural empathy and adaptability on entrepreneurial growth.
Survey research design was adopted with a population of 237 registered student entrepreneurs in the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. 149 sample size were administered structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using PLS-SEM.
It was revealed that Cultural Empathy has the strongest effect on Entrepreneurial growth (β = 0.336, t = 3.464, p < 0.001), followed by Cognitive Flexibility (β = 0.292, t = 2.997, p < 0.003), and Adaptability (β = 0.256, t = 2.600, p = 0.010).
Tertiary institutions should implement cross-cultural immersion-based training to develop cultural empathy which enhances business development potential among their students in global markets. Governement and other policymakers can establish specific programs which build metacognitive cultural competencies among young enterprise founders for combatting youth joblessness and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Student entrepreneurship in an emerging economy is scarcely investigated in relation to metacognitive cultural intelligence dimensions which this research fills this key gap between student entrepreneurship and cultural competence in research. The study reveals specific ways different cultural intelligence elements shape business growth patterns through its contrary approach to past studies on entrepreneurial growth.