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Challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Daphne Halkias
  • Chinedum Nwajiuba
  • Nicholas Harkiolakis
  • Sylva M. Caracatsanis

Abstract

Purpose - This study seeks to examine the business and social profiles of 67 women entrepreneurs in three regions of Nigeria in order to identify patterns of entrepreneurship and social and economic challenges facing women business owners in Nigeria. The study aims to support and encourage sustainable small‐scale economic development activities by Nigerian women and determine ways to integrate these small businesses into existing urban economic development projects and strategies for poverty alleviation, expand understanding of the business and social profiles of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, examine the contextual influences on their work, raise the level of awareness of women entrepreneurs amongst all economically active agents and researchers, influence social and economic policy addressing issues of women entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach - A survey was developed and administered to a sample of 62 practicing Nigerian female entrepreneurs. The survey was divided into sections that recorded personal demographics, the entrepreneur's perceptions of the business environment and their venture and the motivations and drives that led to the birth of their business. Data were collected and processed to produce frequency distributions on every question/variable in the survey followed by cross‐tabulations between all variables andχ2tests in order to reveal strong associations. Findings - With no or few significant differences shown to exist between male and female business owners or managers once they have already started an enterprise, there is a strong indication that Africa has sizeable hidden growth potential in its women. From the results presented, it is evident that female entrepreneurship in Nigeria is driven by micro‐financing as well as family dynamics that work to shape and influence the birth of a business. Research limitations/implications - Future research initiatives need to explore the gender dimension and the influence of education levels on the role models that influence and drive female entrepreneurship. In addition, the evolution of the complete life cycle of the entrepreneur's business should be examined and dependencies on the variables presented should be investigated. Finally, research should focus studies whose aim is to influence social and educational policy that encourages women's entrepreneurship in the fight for poverty alleviation in Africa. Originality/value - Unique contribution with information being provided regarding an area that has not been studied before with a quantitative and qualitative method both within the same study.

Suggested Citation

  • Daphne Halkias & Chinedum Nwajiuba & Nicholas Harkiolakis & Sylva M. Caracatsanis, 2011. "Challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(2), pages 221-235, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:mrrpps:v:34:y:2011:i:2:p:221-235
    DOI: 10.1108/01409171111102821
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Xiaolan & Huang, Yidong & Gao, Mei, 2022. "Can digital financial inclusion promote female entrepreneurship? Evidence and mechanisms," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Ann Teresa Wanjiru Mwaura & Jane Wanjiku Gathenya & John M. Kihoro, 2015. "Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Orientation on the Performance of Women owned Enterprises in Kenya," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 5(9), pages 14-34, September.
    3. Muhammad Amman Khan & Nazish Kanwal & Peer Ghulam Nabi & Ashfaq Ahmad Shah, 2016. "Empowering Women Entrepreneurs through Microcredit: Assessing the Role of Sarhad Rural Support Program in Pakistan," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 12(1), pages 91-112.
    4. Valentina A. Assenova, 2020. "Early-Stage Venture Incubation and Mentoring Promote Learning, Scaling, and Profitability Among Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(6), pages 1560-1578, November.
    5. Atsede Tesfaye Hailemariam & Brigitte Kroon, 2014. "How Do Women Entrepreneurs Define Success? A Qualitative Study of Differences Among Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia," Working Papers 2014/09, Maastricht School of Management.
    6. Purvi Pareek & Chaya Bagrecha, 2017. "A Thematic Analysis of the Challenges and Work-Life Balance of Women Entrepreneurs Working in Small-Scale Industries," Vision, , vol. 21(4), pages 461-472, December.
    7. Seedhouse, Andrew & Johnson, Rebecca & Newbery, Robert, 2016. "Potholes and pitfalls: The impact of rural transport on female entrepreneurs in Nigeria," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 140-147.
    8. Daniel Ruiz-Palomo & Manuel à ngel Fernández-Gámez & Ana León-Gómez, 2022. "Analyzing the Effect of Financial Constraints on Technological and Management Innovation in SMEs: A Gender Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    9. Babatunde AKANJI, 2016. "Exporing Business Management Obscurities Encountered By Female Entrepreenuers In Nigeria: Prospecting An Agenda For Social Change," Management Research and Practice, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 8(4), pages 39-52, December.
    10. Anasuya K. Lingappa & Lewlyn L.R. Rodrigues, 2023. "Synthesis of Necessity and Opportunity Motivation Factors in Women Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Literature Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    11. Farida Mohammed Shehu & Al-Hasan Al-Aidaros, 2015. "A Proposed Framework on the Relationship between Islamic Microfinance Related Factors and Women Entrepreneurs Business Performance in Nigeria," Journal of Education and Vocational Research, AMH International, vol. 6(4), pages 38-44.
    12. Simba, Amon & Martins Ogundana, Oyedele & Braune, Eric & Dana, Léo–Paul, 2023. "Community financing in entrepreneurship: A focus on women entrepreneurs in the developing world," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    13. Juhi Raghuvanshi & Rajat Agrawal & P. K. Ghosh, 2017. "Analysis of Barriers to Women Entrepreneurship: The DEMATEL Approach," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 26(2), pages 220-238, September.
    14. Ann Teresa Wanjiru Mwaura & Jane Wanjiku Gathenya & John M. Kihoro, 2015. "Influence of Entrepreneurial Group Dynamics on the Performance of Women owned Enterprises in Kenya," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 5(10), pages 206-223, October.
    15. Charles Ackah & Richard Osei Bofah & Derek Asuman, 2017. "Who Are Africa’S Entrepreneurs? Comparative Evidence From Ghana And Uganda," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(04), pages 1-23, December.
    16. Welsh, Dianne H.B. & Kaciak, Eugene & Shamah, Rania, 2018. "Determinants of women entrepreneurs' firm performance in a hostile environment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 481-491.
    17. Dianne H. B. Welsh & Eugene Kaciak & Caroline Minialai, 2017. "The influence of perceived management skills and perceived gender discrimination in launch decisions by women entrepreneurs," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-33, March.
    18. Golda Anambane & Kwame Adom, 2018. "Assessing The Role Of Culture In Female Entrepreneurship In Contemporary Sub-Saharan Society: Insights From The Nabadam District Of Ghana," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(03), pages 1-26, September.
    19. Kimbu, Albert Nsom & de Jong, Anna & Adam, Issahaku & Ribeiro, Manuel A. & Afenyo-Agbe, Ewoenam & Adeola, Ogechi & Figueroa-Domecq, Cristina, 2021. "Recontextualising gender in entrepreneurial leadership," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    20. Salia, Samuel & Hussain, Javed & Tingbani, Ishmael & Kolade, Oluwaseun, 2017. "Is women empowerment a zero Sum game? Unintended Consequences of microfinance for Women’s empowerment in Ghana," MPRA Paper 82895, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 23 Aug 2017.
    21. Gannon, Kate & Castellano, Elena & Eskander, Shaikh & Agol, Dorice & Diop, Mamadou & Conway, Declan & Sprout, Liz, 2022. "The triple differential vulnerability of female entrepreneurs to climate risk in sub-Saharan Africa: gendered barriers and enablers to private sector adaptation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115222, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    22. Beverlley Madzikanda & Cai Li & Francis Tang Dabuo, 2021. "What Determines the Geography of Entrepreneurship? A Comparative Study Between Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 7(2), pages 246-262, July.

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