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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

Discussion<br />

F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs to <strong>the</strong> study revealed that <strong>the</strong> female and male entrepreneurs agreed that entrepreneurship<br />

development <strong>in</strong> Nigeria is faced with a lot <strong>of</strong> problems and challenges. From <strong>the</strong> result obta<strong>in</strong>ed, it was<br />

found that <strong>the</strong> respondents held strongly <strong>the</strong> view that <strong>in</strong>adequate capital, turbulent and unstable bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

environment due to socio-economic problems, misapplication <strong>of</strong> loans for ano<strong>the</strong>r purpose,<br />

<strong>in</strong>competence <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurs due to poor education background, lack <strong>of</strong> skilled and competent<br />

management, political <strong>in</strong>stability, <strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurs to source for adequate fund, low level <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> physical and human capital, changes <strong>in</strong> loan adm<strong>in</strong>istration and poor economic policy<br />

from government are <strong>the</strong> major challenges to susta<strong>in</strong>able entrepreneurship development <strong>in</strong> Nigeria. This<br />

f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g corroborates with <strong>the</strong> views <strong>of</strong> Obelagu (2002), Ile (2002), Eke (2007) and Alawode (2007)<br />

establish<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>the</strong>se major constra<strong>in</strong>ts have always brought about <strong>the</strong> non-start<strong>in</strong>g or early collapse <strong>of</strong><br />

entrepreneurial ventures <strong>in</strong> Nigeria. For example, regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurs to source for<br />

enough funds, Alawode disclosed <strong>the</strong> persistence decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> funds made available to small and medium<br />

enterprises (SMES) (between 1992 and 2006) from 49% to 7%. O<strong>the</strong>r constra<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong>clude poor<br />

<strong>in</strong>frastructural technological development, low patronage to <strong>in</strong>digenous bus<strong>in</strong>ess, market imperfection,<br />

high risks <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> new enterprise and low status <strong>of</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eyes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public. All <strong>the</strong>se are<br />

obstacles to entrepreneurship development vis a vis economic development <strong>in</strong> Nigeria and Africa <strong>in</strong><br />

general.<br />

The result also revealed that <strong>the</strong> solutions to <strong>the</strong> challenges to entrepreneurship development <strong>in</strong> Nigeria<br />

<strong>in</strong>cludes: establish<strong>in</strong>g sound economic policy, provid<strong>in</strong>g special funds for entrepreneurs, creat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

enabl<strong>in</strong>g stable bus<strong>in</strong>ess environment, provid<strong>in</strong>g technological/<strong>in</strong>frastructural facilities, recogniz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

contributions <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurs to national economic development, embark<strong>in</strong>g on manpower tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and<br />

development and diversify<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>ess opportunities to meet <strong>the</strong> needs and demands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public.<br />

Conclusion<br />

The f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> this study have revealed that entrepreneurship development is important to <strong>the</strong><br />

development <strong>of</strong> Nigerian economy and Africans <strong>in</strong> general. The study did not hesitate to highlight <strong>the</strong><br />

problems (see Tables 1 and 2). The value <strong>of</strong> this study lies <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that it reveals <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong><br />

provid<strong>in</strong>g special fund for entrepreneurs, encourag<strong>in</strong>g sound education, establish<strong>in</strong>g sound loan policy to<br />

monitor loan adm<strong>in</strong>istration and usage, creat<strong>in</strong>g stable bus<strong>in</strong>ess environment, provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>frastructural<br />

facilities and revitaliz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>stitutions support<strong>in</strong>g susta<strong>in</strong>able entrepreneurship development <strong>in</strong> Nigeria.<br />

However poor implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se might jeopardize both entrepreneurship and economic<br />

development <strong>in</strong> Nigeria and Africa.<br />

Recommendation<br />

The f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> this study <strong>in</strong>dicate that entrepreneurship is a prime mover <strong>in</strong> development and that is<br />

why nations, regions and communities that actively promote entrepreneurship development demonstrate<br />

much higher economic growth rate and consequently higher levels <strong>of</strong> development. The study <strong>the</strong>refore<br />

recommends that:<br />

1. There should be sound national economic policy with respect to SMEs and a recognition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

contributions <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurship to national economic development.<br />

2. There should be tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g programmes for <strong>the</strong> development and channel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurship<br />

talents.<br />

3. There should be provision <strong>of</strong> special funds and a review <strong>of</strong> banks loan policy on entrepreneurs<br />

4. Institutions support<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> entrepreneurs should be revitalized.<br />

220

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