Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Entrepreneurial Behaviour among Academic Staff: The Mediating Role of Institutional Support in Selected Tertiary Institutions in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract The study examined how the entrepreneurial ecosystem influences entrepreneurial behaviour among academic staff in selected tertiary institutions in Plateau State, Nigeria, with institutional support as a mediator. Using a cross-sectional survey and PLS-SEM analysis, the findings showed that entrepreneurial policies, human capital, and entrepreneurial culture significantly enhance entrepreneurial behaviour, both directly and through institutional support. Institutional support partially mediated the relationship, indicating that strong mechanisms such as research funding, incubation centres, mentorship, commercialization policies, and industry partnerships strengthen the impact of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study concludes that improving entrepreneurship-oriented policies, human capital, and institutional support structures is essential for promoting innovation and knowledge commercialization in higher education institution