Authors : Olayinka Rhoda David; Roseline Efosa Ekhaise; Elizabeth O. Ojo; Afeez Olalekan Bakare; Folashade Afisat Akande

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5n7v3rbt

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/27hy23d8

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May466

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Nigerian employees are adhering to the acquisition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competency as prerequisite to be employable for modern jobs but the level of AI competency gap is becoming a major concern for Business education students who may find it difficult to compete for jobs that require these skills. The study determines artificial intelligence competency and perceived influence on employability among Business education students. The study was guided by three research questions and employed a descriptive research design with a survey approach. The target population consisted of 2,291 Business Education students from public institutions in Epe, Lagos. Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample size of 310 was calculated. Respondents were selected through simple random sampling. A researcher-developed questionnaire, labeled QAICPIBESEL, was validated by experts and subjected to a pilot test (with a reliability coefficient of r = 0.78) to gather data. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were utilized to address the research questions. Findings from the study showed the AI competency needed by Business education graduates are AI literacy, prompt engineering, data analytics literacy, ethical reasoning, privacy awareness, model limitations, workflow automation and decision intelligence with a grand mean (x = 3.30). Findings also revealed that many graduates are unaware of AI skills and their potential benefits, high costs and resource constraints inhibits or challenge the adoption of AI skills acquisition (x = 2.98). Findings also showed the acquisition make AI competency make students more attractive to employers (x = 3.23). The study concluded that AI competency influence business education students’ employability. It was recommended among others that, institutions should provide lab access, licenses, AI policy for ethical use to Business education students.

Keywords : Artificial Intelligence, Competency, Employability, Business Education Students, Epe.

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