ABSTRACT
This study
aims to present micro level perspective and analysis on gender related
challenges on the performance of the female entrepreneurs in Lagos state. It
examines structural and factor affecting women entrepreneurs and how specific
women interviewed in selected cities, perceive and respond to these. This
research helps to identify both human and social capital factor affecting the
performance of the female entrepreneurs. Furthermore, it explores the main
causes of performance variance among the business owned by female
entrepreneurs. Data analysis shows that women entrepreneurs’ personal resource
(human and social capital) has an important role in business progress
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
The beginning of business
ownership in Nigeria data back to pre and post-colonial era and involved
commercial activities such as wholesale and retail trading of which women were
pre-dominate. There were also enterprises such as weaving, fishing, food processing,
agricultural production, blacksmithing, goldsmithing etc. Much more
pre-dominant with the men. Nigeria enjoyed a phenomenal economic growth during
the oil boom period of 1973-1980 with per-capital GDP rising from N25,740 in 1971 to N128,700 in 1980. In this period despite the dramatic rise in oil
revenues, misdirected government policies left the country’s economy vulnerable
public was often focus on costly prestigious and inappropriate infrastructure
projects with questionable rate of return. The government also failed to
strengthen public finance and pursed expansionary financial policies which
created significant inflationary pressures. Inward looking industrial policies
also bred a non-competitive manufacturing sector. The Agricultural sector was completely
neglected as the real effective exchange rate increased due to oil rising of
oil prices. The competitiveness of virtually all non-oil sector of the economy
was eroded.
With sustained economic declination individual
as well as government increasingly set up encourage entrepreneurship to enrage
and possibly eradicate the economic depression. As more Nigeria fail to get
employed in the formal and informal section, the need to own a business become
more attractive and competitive especially for women who do not have as much
opportunity as their male counterpart. There are also associated problem such
as difficulty in getting financial, legal trade activities amongst other.
The Nigeria industrial sector is
dominated macro and small scale enterprises which constitute 65.5% of
industrial establishment. Medium scale enterprises constitute 32% while large
scale enterprises make up only about 2.5% of the industrial establishment. In
Lagos state Nigeria, both formal and informal economic activities are common
large members of women work in the informal sector but their contribution to
value added is not included in National account (Soetan, 1995).
There are variety of constraints
on women and the ability of women to upgrade their production continuously.
This include poor access to access to market information, technology, finance
poor linkage with support service and unfavorable policy and regulatory
environment.
Furthermore, concerted efforts
are needed to enable women to make better economics choices and to transform
their business into competitive enterprises, generating income and employment
through improved production.
As women increasingly start their
own business. Political and economic opportunities for women still remain
limited. A number of women 4in career planning are discouraged from following
their dreams because their career choice does not fit in with traditional
gender roles. Men are discouraged from career in nursing, social work and
teaching, while women are discourage from career in technology, science and
security. Men who are interested in “feminine” job are teased about their
sexuality and women who are interested in “male” jobs are questioned as to
whether they have brain or stamina to perform.
Informal economic activities in
Nigeria encompass a wide range of small-scale, largely self-employment
activities, most of them are traditional occupation and method of production of
a particular interest to this study is the informal productive sub-sector which
encompasses all economic activities involving the production of tangible goods.
They include Agricultural production, mining and quarrying (Excluding
petroleum), small-scale manufacturing, building and construction, food
production, wood work, furniture making, garment making, welding and iron work
among others. These categories are classed “technological entrepreneurs”.
1.2
Statement of Problem
The characteristics of women who start high
growth companies in technological industries not establish in literature. More
women run non-technological than technological business. Hence research is
needed to examine the factors that contribute to the performance of each group
as well factors that contribute to the performance of each group as well as
those peculiar characteristics that promote the choice and successful practice
of technological entrepreneurship by women in southwestern Nigeria. Some
important questions that are pertinent to this research work are as follows:
i.
What are the sources of information
available to technological and non-technological entrepreneurs?
ii.
What are the sources of information
available to technological and non-technological entrepreneurs prior to stating
their business and how adequate are they?
iii.
Are measures for performance or
success the same for women in technological and non-technological businesses?
Thus this
research attempts to provide answers to the question by comparing women
entrepreneurs in technological and non-technological industries in southwestern
Nigeria with a view to identifying factors that would enhance performance and
encourage more women into owing technological businesses.
1.3
Purpose of the Study
1. To
develop the women understanding and motivate them to start their own business.
2. To
develop and strengthen the women entrepreneur quality i.e. motivation or need
for more achievement.
3. Understanding
the process and procedure involve in sitting up a small large enterprises.
4. To
formulate the women interest for entrepreneurship.
5. To
know the source of help and support available for starting a technological and non-
technological industry.
6. To
acquire the necessary managerial skills require running an industry.
7. To
develop a broad vision about industry businesses.
8. To
prepare the women to accept uncertainty in running a business.
1.4 Significance of the Study
1. It
will enable the women to be independent.
2. It
will also create equality between male and female entrepreneurs.
3. To
increase the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Nation.
4. To
create enabling environment for women education.
5. To
distinguish between successful entrepreneurs from un-success ones.
6. Enable
women possess certain competence or trait.
7. Right
to compete with their male counterpart
1.5
Research Questions
In this study; these
factor and others that are mare relevant to the Nigeria context were collected
and surveyed both in the informal sector. Basically two questions prompt this
study they are:
1. What
are the factors responsible for the choice of either service or manufacturing
venture by women?
2. What
factors influence the performance of women in service and manufacturing in the
micro and small scale enterprises of Nigeria economy?
1.6 Scope/Delimitation of the Study
The research
assessed the choice and performance of women in technological and non-technological
micro and small scale enterprises in Lagos state Nigeria. The research sheds
light on the learning mechanism that influences the choice of non-technological
venture by women. The learning mechanism of the entrepreneurs was found to
include conceptualization, friends, business contact, and association,
internet, radio among others.
However, access to relevant
programmers on television, attendance at trade fairs and community outreach
program organized by government agencies such as extension service seminar and
workshops significantly impacted on the choice of technological venture