ABSTRACT:

The study investigated social network and human capital as determinants of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition in Nigeria. Triangulation method of data collection was adopted while ex-post facto research design was conducted in the study. Hence, purposive and convenience sampling techniques were adopted in sampling four hundred and forty three (443) male and female participants participated in the study. The independent variables are social network and human capital while the dependent variable is entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. A hypothesis was stated and tested. Hence results showed that, there was a joint prediction entrepreneurial opportunity recognition by social network and human capital factors of age, gender, experience and education F (5, 443) = 7.053; R2 = 0.139; p <.05). Similarly, it revealed that age (β = 0.101; t=2.165; p < .05); education (β = 0.113; t=3.287; p < .05); experience (β = 0.094; t=2.151; p < .05) and social network (β = 0.088; t=1.811; p < .05) independently predicted entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. However, results showed that gender did not independently predict entrepreneurial opportunity recognition (β = -0.032; t= -0.438; p > .05). It was concluded that social network and human capital are among the significant predictors of individuals’ entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. Hence, recommendation was made that trainers, educators, government and individuals should be more liberal and combine their personal efforts in their bid to identify successful areas of business opportunities.