Careers Education: An Effective Tool for Poverty Reduction

Education plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life of people, both old and young. However, the quality of education someone receives per time determines the impact and contributions he or she makes in terms of poverty reduction, income generation, wealth creation and social responsibility in his or her immediate environment. This can easily be achieved by being focused in one's career life. The objective of this paper is to look at careers education as an effective tool for poverty reduction. This paper is divided into five sections. Section two includes the concept of career education, objectives of career education, benefits of career education, section three includes the contributions of different theorists to career education development, academic and discipline realities and subjects to be included in school curriculum, section four is on careers education as an effective tool for poverty reduction, section five is the conclusion and recommendations. The research was carried out based mainly on the secondary source of data. Among other things, the study recommends that the government should formulate policies and programmes that will guide schools in designing their curricula that is career oriented and should refocus the poverty alleviation programmes to be more career educational oriented

Entrepreneurial Motivations as Determinants of Women Entrepreneurship Challenges

Motivation is the set of forces that initiate behaviour and determine its form, direction, intensity and duration. Women are motivated into business by different factors. This article looked at the relationship between motivations and entrepreneurial challenges among women entrepreneurs. Examining the relationship between motivations and women entrepreneurial challenges tends to provide some useful insights into some theoretical issues on the one hand and on the other hand, it raises some practical implications for policy makers both in the government and women entrepreneurs. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that a positive relationship exists between motivational factors and women entrepreneurial challenges. Based on this finding, this study among others recommends that women entrepreneurs should take some time to study the nature of challenges women entrepreneurs face in business and possibly proffer solutions to them before starting their own business

Motivational Patterns and the Performance of Entrepreneurs: An Empirical Study of Women Entrepreneurs in South-West Nigeria

Over the years many research works have examined the motivation of women into entrepreneurship. Evidence has shown that several factors have been responsible for women’s involvement in entrepreneurship. These factors have multiple effects on the enterprise, irrespective of its ownership and control. Therefore, the main thrust of this paper is to examine different dimensions of motivation and their relationship with the performance of women entrepreneurs in South-West Nigeria. Both primary and secondary sources were used in gathering the data required for this paper. The instrument of questionnaire was used in conducting this research. The models of correlation coefficient and chi-square were used in analyzing the questionnaire collected from the respondents. The results show that there is positive relationship between motivational factors and the performance of women entrepreneurs in South-West Nigeria. Among other things, it was recommended that irrespective of the factor(s) that motivate women entrepreneurs into business, there is need for them to go for training and other capacity building programme so as to be equipped with the required skills for running their businesses

An Exploratory Study of the Women Entrepreneurial Motivation in the South-west Nigeria

Women entrepreneurial motivation is a function of variables that are subject to authors and researchers’ opinions and views. These variables can be classified based on their impact on women entrepreneurial performance, behavior and challenges. This paper is therefore focused on examining the factors that affect women entrepreneurial motivation in the South-West Nigeria. The data used for the study was obtained through primary source. The data gathered was analyzed using the model of correlation analysis. Recommendations were made based on the result obtained from the testing of the hypothesi

MOTIVATIONAL PATTERNS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES: A CASE STUDY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

This study is aimed at examining the motivational patterns of women entrepreneurs in Small and Medium Enterprises using South-West Nigeria as case study. The specific objectives include: (i) to examine the factors that motivate women entrepreneurs across different industrial sectors in the South-West Nigeria; (ii) to and analyze the relationship between motivation and the performance of women in SMEs sub-sector; (iii) to determine the relationship between the factors that motivate women entrepreneurs and the challenges they face in business (iv) to examine the relationship between the factors that motivate women entrepreneurs and their type of business ownership; (iv) to determine if there is significant relationship between environmental factors and women entrepreneurial motivation. The data required for this study was gathered through the instruments of questionnaire, in-depth interview and participant observation. Five hundred and seventy (570) copies of questionnaires were administered out of which four hundred and twenty two (422) copies of the questionnaires were collated for the analysis. To achieve the objectives of this study, five hypotheses were formulated from the structure of research questions. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), chi-square, correlation coefficient, concentration and diversification technique based on Standard Industrial Trade Classification and other statistical tools were used in testing these hypotheses. The results show significant relationship between motivational patterns of women entrepreneurs and their performance; the challenges they face in business; their type of business ownership and environmental factors. The study also revealed that motivational factors which were classified into four different categories (push and pull; intrinsic and extrinsic; forced and chanced and internal and external factors) can act as both predictive and preventive measure for women entrepreneurs. Based on these findings and for policy implications, the study suggests that more women should be encouraged to start business and be equipped with managerial skills for effective performance

Informal Savings and Poverty Reduction among Women in MSEs: An Exploratory Study

Micro and Small Enterprises in Nigeria, (MSEs) has increasingly been contributing to the rapid growth of Nigerian economy in recent years. It has been producing over half of industry value added and more than half of Nigerian Gross National income. Aside from this, it has also accounted for poverty alleviation, employment creation and wealth creation among the populace of Nigeria. In terms of finance, Women in MSEs accessibility to formal financial institution has remained to be very low. Upon this thrust, this study aims at examining the effect of infmmal savings on poverty reduction among women in MSEs. Primary and secondary data were used in carried out the study. The instrument of questionnaire was issued in obtaining the data required for the study. The data gathered was analysised using descriptive analysis and regression analysis. The results revealed that although strong significant relationship exist between informal savings and business performance of women in MSEs, informal finance scheme is usually encounter problem such as not having sufficient funds to satisfy the financial needs of MSEs operators, lack of access to information, illiteracy etc. Among other things, it was recommended that the government should assist the informal financial institutions by establishing a Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme that can help in augmenting their financial base

Analysis of Entrepreneurial Attributes as Predictors of Entrepreneurial Actions among Students

Entrepreneurial attributes such as desire for achievement, locus of control, risk taking propensity, proactiveness, tolerance for ambiguity, creativity and others have been viewed by several researchers as predictors of entrepreneurial actions. Relating these attributes to youth's entrepreneurship, this paper is aimed to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial attributes and actions among students. The study is carried out among the students of Covenant University Ota, in Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary and secondary sources were used in collecting the data. It was discovered that there is positive relationship between students' entrepreneurial attributes such as risks taking propensity, futuristic in taking decisions, desire for independence and freedom, creative and innovativeness and their entrepreneurial action. Based on this, it was recommended that efforts should be made to introduce entrepreneurship as a compulsory course in Nigerian schools and colleges so as to transfer the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to students through effective entrepreneurship education for their self-reliance and self employment during and after graduation from school

Empowering Women as an Alternative Mechanism in Resolving Crisis:The Niger Delta Experience

Crisis which usually results to poverty has been recorded to affect women more than other groups. The poverty level in crisis zone is exacerbated by the high cost of living in 111ost of their rural anJ urban areas where women dwell. However, women play significant role in the economic development of their nation, the incidence of poverty especially in the crisis region has constrained them to live below the standard of living. This has adversely affected their businesses and hence their contributions to the economic development of the country. Based on this, the researcher decided to carry out this study to examine how empowerment programmes can serve as an alternative mechanism in resolving crisis situation in places li ke Niger Delta in Nigeria. The study is theoretically based and the findings revealed that the involvement of women in decision making process can act as an alternative mechanism for crisis resolution. Among other things, provision of micro finance, training and development programmes, formula tion of polices that will enhance women's participation in political, social and economic decision making process were recommended as the best way for empowering women in crisis regions like Niger Delta in Nigeria

The Effect of Entrepreneurship Education on Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions

Purpose-The main aim of this paper is to examine the effect of entrepreneurial education on students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Also the study sought to determine whether such intention usually give rise to entrepreneurial start-up among students.Design/methodology/approach-Primary data comes from 250 students who currently have entrepreneurship as one of their courses in their institution of higher leaning within the south west of the country. Respondents filled in a detailed questionnaire on their background and other related items as regards to their entrepreneurship education. A model of regression analysis was considered most appropriate for the data analysis of the study used. The use of regression analysis results from the fact that it will enable the study to test the influence of independent variables on the dependent variable and also to ascertain the rate of change in the dependent variable as determined by increase or decrease in the independent variables.Findings-The results of the regression analysis revealed that student’s exposure to entrepreneurship education has a positive influence on the students’entrepreneurial intentions. Research Limitations/implications-Examining the impact of entrepreneurial education on students’ entrepreneurial activities tends to raise or provide some useful insights into some theoretical issues on one hand. And on the other hand, it raises some practical implications for policy makers both in the government and universities. However, this study is limited based on the information available when the research is carried out. Further research could look at the effect of the entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial activities after graduation. This study hence recommends that the Nigeriangovernment should make entrepreneurship education a compulsory course in Nigerian schools (primary, secondary and tertiary institutions). This will help to influence youth’s attitude towards entrepreneurship. Originality /value-The study makes empirical and theoretical contribution by focussing on the research area that has received less attention especially in the context of study environmen

Economic Empowerment and the Socio-Economic Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs in the South-West Nigeria an Empirical Study

The impact of women entrepreneurs on economic development of both developed and developing economies have been viewed as significant. However, their contributions have been retarded due to some socio-economic challenges they face in their businesses. Different agencies both local and international have made commendable efforts towards alleviating these challenges through different instruments. Among others, the researcher sees empowerment as an important tool for solving the challenges facing women entrepreneurs. This study therefore focuses on the place of empowerment on solving the socio-economic challenges women entrepreneurs face in business using South- West Nigeria as a case study. Primary data were obtained through questionnaire. A sample size of 4 7 4 women entrepreneurs were randomly selected for the administration of the questionnaires in the South- West Nigeria. Regression model as a statistical tool was used in analyzing the hypothesis. The results revealed that women entrepreneurs' major constraints are mainly lack of access to finance, information and capacity building. Among other things, the study recommended that the government should enhance women entrepreneurs' access to micro credit and establish agency that will specialize in organizing regular training and workshop programmes for women entrepreneurs. This will help to create awareness on the need to have more women actively involved in entrepreneurial development and also equip active women entrepreneurs with financial and managerial skills required for their effective business operatio