ABSTRACT
This
study entitled “Entrepreneurship as a tool for poverty reduction in Nigeria,
Kwara central senatorial district.” was intended to assess the impact, implementation
and evaluating the effectiveness of NDE & NEEDS, especially in relation to
policy and strategy formulation, implementation, co-ordination, monitoring, and
utilization of human and materials resources. Four hypotheses were formulated
to guide the study. Related literature on entrepreneurship and poverty
reduction strategies and programmes were intensively and extensively reviewed.
The study also utilized the survey research and made use of primary source of
data collection and analysis. It was found that NDE had to some extent created
jobs for the unemployed ones, reduced poverty in the area and generally in
Nigeria. Based on the above findings and conclusion, NDE and other stakeholders
should develop a dimensional approach towards other effective and efficient
poverty alleviation programmes, efforts should be made by government to
increase funding and in the areas of implementation, monitoring and evaluation,
the government anti-corruption bodies should intensify efforts to deal with and
brought to order any person whose misappropriating handling of funds concerning
poverty reduction is wanting in Kwara state and Nigeria as a whole.
Title page………………………………………………………………………………………. i
Certification …………………………………………………………………………………… ii
Dedication ……………………………………………………………………………………. . iii
Acknowledgment ………………………………………………………………………………. Iv
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………… v
Table of content ……………………………………………………………………………….. vi
CHAPTER ONE
1.1
Background
of the study ……………………………………………………………. 1-
2
1.2
Statement
of the problem ……………………………………………………………
2-5
1.3
Research
Question …………………………………………………………………..
5-5
1.4
Objectives
of the study ……………………………………………………………..
5-5
1.5
Hypothesis
formulation ……………………………………………………………..
6-6
1.6
Significance
of the study …………………………………………………………….
6-7
1.7
Scope
of the study …………………………………………………………………… 7-7
1.8
Definition
of key terms ……………………………………………………………… 7-8
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual
Review …………………………………………………………………. 9-12
2.2 Characteristics
of Entrepreneurship ………………………………………………….12-13
2.3 Types
of Entrepreneurship …………………………………………………………..13-13
2.3.1 Craftsman
Entrepreneurs …………………………………………………………… 14-14
2.3.2 Opportunistic
Entrepreneurs ………………………………………………………. 14-15
2.4 Contributions of Entrepreneurship Training towards Poverty Reduction in
Nigeria .15-17
2.5
Other Contributions of Entrepreneurship towards Poverty Reduction in
Nigeria ... 17-17
2.5.1 Entrepreneurship Education …………………………………………………… 17-18
2.5.2 Alleviating Poverty through Women Entrepreneurship ……………………….. 18-19
2.6 Hindrances of Entrepreneurship Training in
achieving Poverty Reduction in Nigeria19-25
2.7 Theoretical Review …………………………………………………………………. 25-35
2.8 Empirical
Review……………………………………………………………………35-37
2.9
Identification of Gap ……………………………………………………………37-38
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research
Design …………………………………………………………………39- 39
3.2 Sources of data collection
……………………………………………………… 39-39
3.3 Population
of the study ……………………………………………………………39-39
3.4 Sample
Size and Sampling Technique
……………………………………………. 39-40
3.5 Administer of Questionnaire ……………………………………………………… 40-41
3.6 Method
of Data Analysis
…………………………………………………………41-41
3.7 Justification of the Method ………………………………………………………42-42
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND
INTERPRETATION
4.1 Data
presentation ………………………………………………………..
43-43
4.2 Statement
of Hypothesis ………………………………………………..
43-44
4.3
Test of Hypothesis ……………………………………………………… 44-52
4.4 Discussion
of Findings …………………………………………………..
52-52
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary………………………………………………………………… 53-55
5.2 Conclusion
……………………………………………………………….. 55-57
5.3 Recommendation
…………………………………………………………57-60
Reference
Appendix
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
One
of the major challenges facing developing or underdeveloped countries of the
world is poverty. It has been so endemic as a result of the high rate of unemployment
that has become the major characteristic of the developing countries of the
world. Although, the level and magnitude of poverty and unemployment has been
observed to be different within and across nations, it still remains the major
obstacle to the success of the struggle for the optimum utilization of human
resources for both social and economic development of nations. With the
position Nigeria occupy in Africa in terms of the share of population, one
cannot but imagine the percentage of Nigerians that are affected by this
debilitating monster called poverty and hence making the war against poverty
one of the cardinal policy of government in Nigeria.
Nigeria has one of the world’s
highest economic growth rates, average 7.4% according to the Nigeria Economic
Report released in July 2014 by the World Bank. Poverty may have been over
estimated because of the country’s economy which is now been understood more
and more. Poverty still remains significant at 33.1% in Africa’s biggest
economy. The problem with poverty has proved intractable as very significant
proportion of our population continues to live below the poverty line.
Poverty in any community is a serious
setback to the economic, political, social and general development of the
society. More so, in a society like ours characterized by low education,
unskilled labour, and profligate lifestyle, non delivery of total quality
policy package based on needs, policy leakages to non target population and
traditional values and norms have all affected the performance of poverty
alleviation initiatives, programmes and strategies. It is imperative at this
point that we describe what poverty is. For the purpose of this research, the
term poverty shall be defined from an empirical point of view.
Weiser (2011), citing the World
Banking (2011) defined poverty as pronounced deprivation in wellbeing and
comprises many dimension.
The best way for government to
achieve sustainable poverty reduction and to improve the economy in general, is
to encourage a vibrant entrepreneurial society (Stephen Silvinski). This means;
·
The
government needs to decrease business regulations and let free enterprises lead
the way.
·
Accordingly,
lifting licensing requirements that hurt poor entrepreneurs the most should be
seen as an anti-poverty policy (Stephen Silvinski)
Entrepreneurship,
its activities, if properly harnessed can positively engage school leavers,
provide employment opportunity and thus reduce poverty. Entrepreneurship is
very vital to a nation’s sustainable economic development as it helps to create
wealth and reduce poverty to the barest minimal and if left unchecked could
threaten the very foundation of our society, take away our freedom and bring down
our nascent democracy. It is against
this background that this research topic ‘Entrepreneur as a tool for poverty
reduction in Nigeria’ becomes desideratum.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
One of the basic reasons for the
existence of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and National Economic
Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) was to raise entrepreneurs from
all ramifications.
Over the years, it has faced numerous
challenges that have slowed down its activities such as Inadequate training
facilities, inadequate trainers, problem of well designed curriculum, lack of
access to capital, government attitudes towards funding, problem of enabling
operating environment.
For
example, it has been observed that adequate training facilities and equipments
for acquiring business skills, capabilities and competencies which can
effectively bring about entrepreneurial activities is lacking. The consequences
of this problem have made the NDE & NEEDS unable to train who to be
entrepreneurs. The resultant effect is that the senatorial district has not
been able to live up to the expectation of promoting entrepreneurship in the
country. In fact, this has affected the senatorial district in the sense that
it has not been able to acquire modern skills through the acquisition of modern
training facilities.
There
is also the problem of inadequate trainers. Availability of manpower is
directly related to productivity. The personnel of senatorial district who are
supposed to train people to become entrepreneurs are inadequate. The fact that
the trainers are not qualified makes it difficult to be able to effectively
impact knowledge and training on who will be an entrepreneur. The resultant
effect of the inadequate and unskilled trainers of senatorial district is that
it reduces the capacity of the senatorial district to properly train young
entrepreneurs.
The
problem of a well designed curriculum is another challenge to entrepreneurial
training in NDE & NEEDS. Every training or educational programme must have
a well designed curriculum in order to be effective. Entrepreneurial training
is confronted with the problem of lack of well designed curriculum due to lack
of necessary information to be used in designing a suitable curriculum. The
major requirement for effective entrepreneurial training in Nigeria includes
reliable labour market information/business opportunities and career. The
absence of these vital data means that entrepreneurial trainers have to plan
their training programmes and curricular with sufficient information on
business opportunities, labour market demand and career to be chosen. Hence,
there is the problem of a well designed curriculum on which entrepreneurial
education could be operated on.
Furthermore,
Lack of access to capital is another big problem that the NDE & NEEDS and
its recipients face in entrepreneurial training. Banks are reluctant to grant
credit facilities to them without adequate collateral/securities. The lack of
fund to start business places limitation on entrepreneurship development in senatorial
district. This capital will aid senatorial district and its recipients to carry
out entrepreneurial activities properly; the recipients will need capital to
put into practice what they learnt and also reduce poverty drastically. The end
result is that so far, senatorial district has only registered and trained
people but no or little capital is given to them to put into practice what they
learnt. The aim is defeated
In
addition, Government attitude towards funding is also another problem confronting
senatorial district in carrying out entrepreneurial activities in Nigeria.
Government’s non-challant attitude towards the funding of entrepreneurial
training is worrisome. Whenever fund is approved, it is not released on time,
and when released at all, the corrupt officials will demand for “kickback”
resulting to insufficient funds for the training. The resultant effect is that
trainees will be at the receiving end because whatever resource released is
meant for them but when this resource is diverted; there will not be adequate
training.
Lastly,
there is the problem of conducive operating environment. If basic
infrastructural facilities that aid training are still in poor state as they
are, the trainers cannot do anything about entrepreneurial training. For
example, power supply is epileptic and at times, power is completely out for
days.
This situation is really a big
challenge to entrepreneurial training in senatorial district in Nigeria. The
end result of this problem is that entrepreneurial activities will be slowed
causing redundancy in the trainees.
1.3 Research Questions
Based on
the above identified statement of research problems the following research
questions were raised
1.
Why
does the senatorial district still lack adequate training facilities and
equipment despite several years of its existence?
2.
What
has made trainers unqualified and unskilled in performing their duties?
3.
Why
does access to capital pose big problems to entrepreneurship development?
4.
How
does government attitude towards funding entrepreneurship activities affect
entrepreneurial development?
This research will deal with the aforementioned
issues.
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The
broad objective is to assess entrepreneurship as a tool for poverty reduction
in Nigeria while the specific objectives are to:
1.
Investigate
the reasons behind lack of adequate training facilities and equipment.
2.
Determine
level of qualified and skilled trainers in performing entrepreneurship
activities.
3.
Examine
the problems of capital accessibility to entrepreneurship development.
4.
Assess
government attitude towards funding entrepreneurship activities in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Hypothesis
H01: There
is no significant relationship between inadequate training facilities and equipment
on entrepreneurship development.
H02: There is no significant
relationship of qualified and skilled trainers on the performance of
entrepreneurship activities.
H03: There is no significant problem
of accesing capital on entrepreneurship development.
H04: There is no significant effect in government attitudes towards funding
entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of the study
The research project would be
important to the community in the local Government of the senatorial district,
state and federal government. It will also help future entrepreneurs,
beneficiaries and policy makers as a result of the analysis and discussion will
give recommendation on how to enhance better improvements of the programmes.
The
research would also be relevant to scholars and student on entrepreneurship
programme, most especially when crucial concept of entrepreneurship and poverty
is seen from the political power and theoretical framework.
The study
also intends to provide insights into changes in family lifestyles as a result
of effectiveness of entrepreneurship on modern society. This knowledge would be
of great value to these classes of people who will design programmes that will
help people cope with problems.
1.7 Scope and Limitations to the Study
The study
is carried out on National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and on National
Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) in Kwara central. The
Study will also look at the contribution of the NDE & NEEDS towards
alleviating poverty and uplifting the standard of living of the beneficiaries
through entrepreneurship.
Militating factors as time, insufficient
fund, and coverage of large areas network were major problems encountered.
Studying a large sample size of this nature
can be stressful and so can result into a burnout situation. However, the research
work was completed with the believe that the output would contribute immensely
to human capital development.
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