Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science

This study investigated the age, gender and parental socio-economic background as predictors of Nigerian students’ aspiration to travel abroad. The study adopted a survey research design of the ex-post facto type. Oyo State Command Passport Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service was purposively selected in Nigeria. Four hundred (400) respondents (students) were randomly selected from those who came to Oyo State Command passport Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service to secure international passport. Questionnaire was the major instrument that was developed and used for the study. The questionnaire was divided into sections A and B. Section A has structured items on students’ characteristics. Section B consisted of structured items on aspiration to travel abroad (0.76). Three research questions were answered. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression statistics. The three variables have a joint positive multiple correlation with Nigerian students’ aspiration to travel abroad (R=.206). The three independent variables also accounted for 4.3% of the variance of Nigerian students’ aspiration to travel abroad (Adjusted R² =.043). Parental socio-economic background made the most significant contribution to Nigerian students’ aspiration to travel (β = .168, P <.05), followed by gender (β = .097, P >.05) and Age (β = -.064, P >.05) made the least contribution. Nigeria students’ aspiration to travel abroad could be predicted by parental socio-economic background (B=.204; t=3.389; p<0.05). The combinations of parental socio-economic background, gender, and age have direct contributions to Nigerian students’ aspiration to travel abroad. It was also noted that students’ parental socio-economic background proved more effective at predicting students’ aspiration to travel abroad. The combination of these factors should be taken into consideration to curtail students’ aspiration to travel abroad.