Entrepreneurial Bricolage among Gen Z in Nigeria: The Role of Self-Efficacy

Many Gen-Zs face low self-efficacy, which limits their willingness to engage in entrepreneurial bricolage. Apparently, structural barriers such as unemployment, lack of access to formal funding, and limited mentorship reduce confidence in personal abilities. Even when skills and resources are available, fear of failure and social pressures often prevent young people from taking entrepreneurial moves. Hence, the study examined the role of self-efficacy in shaping entrepreneurial bricolage among young Nigerian entrepreneurs, while the specific objectives are to explore how Gen Z entrepreneurs perceive their own abilities and how these perceptions affect their capacity to apply available resources resourcefully. A survey design incorporating qualitative interviews was employed to systematically collect in-depth data from participants across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. The population comprised 18-year-old Gen Z individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities, with a purposive sample of 60 participants selected to ensure relevant experience with resource-constrained ventures. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes in self-efficacy and bricolage behaviours. The findings reveal that confidence is shaped by practical experience, skills, social support, and resilience, that self-efficacy enables the creative combination of available resources, that confidence encourages adaptive learning and problem-solving, and that higher self-efficacy promotes active networking and collaboration. By implication, self-efficacy is a critical driver of entrepreneurial bricolage, influencing both psychological readiness and practical resourcefulness among Gen Z entrepreneurs. It is recommended that entrepreneurship programs, support organizations, and networks focus on building practical skills, confidence, and collaborative opportunities to strengthen the capacity of young entrepreneurs to leverage resources effectively.