Page 1 of 10
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 17
A Study of the Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in
Akure City of on do State, Nigeria
Ajayi Adeola
Email: ajayiayoola1@gmail.com
Abstract
The paper assessed the challenges faced by
women entrepreneurs in Akure City of Ondo
State, Nigeria. This was necessitated by
need to ensure that women play an
important role in the generation of
employment and wealth creation in Akure
City of Ondo State, Nigeria.
Both primary and secondary sources of data
were utilized for the study. The primary
sources of data were collected using
structured questionnaires. The sample
consisted of 120 women entrepreneurs in
Akure City of Ondo State, Nigeria.
Respondents were selected from women
entrepreneurs in agriculture, vocational
training, manufacturing, trading and
services. The questionnaires were
administered using descriptive and
inferential statistics to achieve the objectives
of the study.
The findings revealed that there are many
challenges affecting Akure based women
entrepreneurs which aptly explain why they
cannot contribute meaningfully to
entrepreneurship development of the City.
The study concluded that the challenges
facing Akure based women entrepreneurs
should be addressed in order for them to
contribute significantly to the economic
growth of Ondo State and Nigeria as a
whole.
Keywords: Challenges, Economic Growth,
Gross National Product, Unemployment,
Poverty Reduction, Women Entrepreneurs
Background to the Study
Women entrepreneurs are vital to the
economy development, poverty and
unemployment reduction of nation. They
have roles to play in the social economy,
and political life of any nation.
Women in traditional African economies
form the primary producers especially in
agriculture, food processing including both
the preservation and storage product.
Women are also involved in activities such
as weaving, spinning and several handcrafts
(Kpelai, 2009).
According to Jejeniwa (1995), women are at
the heart of economic development and
economic growth as they control most or the
non-monetary economy (subsistence
agriculture, bearing children, domestic
labour and so on) and play an important role
in the monetary economy as well as (trading,
wage, labour employment among others.
UNESCO (2002) stated that women form
high percentage or the population and they
have come a long way in businesses,
politics, education, sport and other
professions. However, women entrepreneurs
suffer a lot of challenges and inhibitions
Page 2 of 10
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 18
which militate against them in Akure City of
Ondo State and Nigeria as whole.
Hence, this study is aimed to find out the
challenges of women entrepreneurs in Akure
City of Ondo State, Nigeria.
Statement of the Problem
Women entrepreneurs in Akure City of
Ondo State have great entrepreneurship
potentials given the right incentives and
support which will surely aid national
growth and development with the necessary
‘‘enablement’’ and government
commitment, the women entrepreneurs can
contribute inestimably to the development of
our economy.
The women entrepreneurs in Nigeria in
general and Akure City in particular have
been relegated to the background for too
long. The Yoruba tradition al society
believes that women are better off not self- employed, given that there are already
certain difficulties in performing
entrepreneurial activities.
Moreover, Akure based women
entrepreneurs face problems attributable to
socio-cultural factors, for example, social
condition in some parts inhibit women from
starting their own business because they
often lack the skills, training, incentive and
support system that can expedite their
pursuit.
It is against this backdrop that this study sets
out to assess the challenges of women
entrepreneurs in Akure City of Ondo State,
Nigeria.
Objectives of the Study
The Objectives of the study are to
i. review existing literature on women
entrepreneurs
ii. examine problems of women
entrepreneurs in Nigeria ; and
iii. recommend solutions to problems of
women entrepreneurs in Akure City of
Ondo State,
Nigeria.
Significance of the Study
The findings of this empirical study will
expose the challenges facing Akure based
women entrepreneurs and proffer solutions
in solving them.
Moreover, the findings will in no small way
accelerate rapid growth of the economy and
contribute to employment generation of
Ondo state and Nigeria as a whole.
Finally, it will also give the government and
researcher’s insight into what is required to
create enabling environment and equip them
with the requisite knowledge on how to get
their initiatives on the growth path given by
the available limited resources.
Literature Review
Gee (2000) defined women entrepreneurs as
‘‘a woman or a group of women who
initiate, organize and run a business
enterprise’’.
Government of India also defined women
entrepreneurs as ‘‘an enterprise owned and
controlled by women who have minimum
financial interest of 51% of the employment
generated in the enterprise to women’’.
Westil (2005) referred to women
entrepreneurs as ‘‘any woman who
organizes and manages any enterprise
especially a business’’.
Lavore (1984) described women
entrepreneurs as ‘‘female heads of
businesses who have taken initiatives of
launching new ventures, who are accepting
Page 3 of 10
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 19
the associated risks and social
responsibilities and who are effectively in
charge of its day-to day management.
The role of women entrepreneurs in
economic development, poverty and
unemployment reduction in developing
countries has been asserted in many studies
on women entrepreneurship, illustrated how
women entrepreneurs have utilized their
entrepreneurial skills to become
economically independent and provided
economic support to the family through an
entrepreneurship.
Tayoux (2004) noted that women
entrepreneurs are simply women that
participate in total entrepreneurial activities,
who take the risks involved in combining
resources together in a unique way so as to
take advantages of the opportunities
identified in their immediate environment
through production of goods and services.
Most of these are involved in micro small
and medium scale enterprises (MSMES)
which contribute more than 97% of all
enterprises, 60% of the nation’s EDP and
7% of the total share of the employment
(Ndubusi 2004). The spectrum of women in
entrepreneurship often ranges from home- based businesses (HBB) to micro, small and
medium enterprises (MSEs) (ILO, 1998).
Okafor et al. (2010) ascertained that women
possess dual characteristics (for instance
they are firstly women and secondly
entrepreneurs). Therefore, women
entrepreneurs possess characteristics which
include adaptability and innovativeness
creativity (Schumpeter, 1934, Drucker,
1985) strength and internal locus of control
(Annenkava 2001) ability to think and
reason fast and order (Mayou &, 2001)
Managerial skill, accountability and credit
risk.
Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs
Adelaja (2004) reported that women
entrepreneurs control only 1% of the
manufacturing sector in Nigeria. Also in
Tanzania, the population of women
entrepreneurs is 2.8% (Tanzania Ministry of
Trade, 2000)
Similarly, Wilina and Allen (1998)
maintained the global economic
development resources and property
ownership are concentrated in the hands of
more men than women. Women
entrepreneurs rarely have property which
they can offer as collateral to secure loans.
The study done by Dejardin and Awad
(1995) pointed to the fact that the access of
women entrepreneurs to credit is greatly
restricted.
Accoding to NCPE (2012), women are not
well represented in the policy making
process, especially in issues of business and
entrepreneurship development.
Veena (2008) highlighted some of the
challenges of women entrepreneurs. They
are :
i. Problems at work
ii. Problems at home
iii. Problems with husbands
iv. Socio-Economic challenges
v. Personal challenges ;and
vi. Other strategic challenges
ILO (2003) added that the following are the
challenges of women entrepreneurs. They
are:
i. Government policy
