Graduate unemployment and uncertain school-to-work transitions continue to shape career decisions in Nigeria, prompting renewed attention to entrepreneurship education and career pathways: a study of employment versus self-employment choices among university graduates in Anyigba, Kogi State Nigeria. The study examined the influence of entrepreneurship education on graduates’ career choices, assessed the extent to which it affects preference for paid employment, and identified factors mediating the relationship between entrepreneurial training and career pathways. The study was anchored on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A cross-sectional descriptive survey research design was adopted, focusing on graduates residing in Anyigba and its environs. The study population comprised graduates who remained in the area before and after National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), with an estimated population of 900–1,000. A sample size of 25 participants was determined drawing from methodological guidance by Greg Guest and Johnny Saldaña and  selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using content analysis, supported by descriptive statistics and NVivo software. Findings revealed that entrepreneurship education significantly shapes graduates’ awareness and attitudes toward self-employment but has limited direct influence on actual career decisions. The preference for paid employment remains dominant due to income stability concerns, economic uncertainty, and risk considerations. The study further found that access to finance, family expectations, and environmental constraints strongly mediate the transition from entrepreneurial intention to practice. The study concluded that entrepreneurship education influences mindset more than behaviour, and therefore recommended among others strengthening practical training, improving access to start-up support, and promoting a supportive environment for graduate entrepreneurship.