Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development in Benue State, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of women empowerment on entrepreneurship development in Benue State, Nigeria. Specifically the study examined the effect of educational empowerment and economic empowerment on employment generation and financial sustainability in Benue State. Descriptive survey design was used for this study. A population of 320 women who are beneficiaries of entrepreneurship programmes in Makurdi, Benue State and a sample of 178 served as the respondents. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Cronbach Alpha was used for reliability of instrument and factor analysis was employed to test the validity of the instrument. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as tables and simple percentages while chi-square was used for null hypotheses testing with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21). The findings of this study indicated a positive significant relationship between educational empowerment and employment generation, a positive significant relationship between educational empowerment and financial sustainability. The study also revealed a significant relationship between educational economic empowerment and employment generation and significant relationship between economic empowerment and financial sustainability. The study concludes that better knowledge about the economic importance of women entrepreneurship and their particular strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, is important to the success of entrepreneurship and economic development of Benue State. It recommended amongst others that there should be re-orientation on women’s empowerment and participation which could be achieved through seminars, trainings and workshops. Keyword: Entrepreneurship, Development, Women, Benue, Nigeria. INTRODUCTIO

Entrepreneurship Education and Unemployment Reduction in Benue State, Nigeria

The study examined Entrepreneurship Education and Unemployment Reduction in Benue State, Nigeria. The population of the study comprises 270 beneficiaries of entrepreneurship training programmes in Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development Centre and Centre for Youths and Women Skills Acquisition training centers in Vandeikya Local Government Area while the sample size for the study is 125 respondents. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Cronbach Alpha was used for reliability of instrument and factor analysis was employed to test the validity of the instrument. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as tables and simple percentages while multi regression was used for hypotheses testing with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21). The findings of this study indicates that entrepreneurship education contribute significantly to unemployment reduction in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State through wealth creation (P-value 0.000< α 0.05). Findings of the study also revealed that entrepreneurship education has significant effect on unemployment reduction in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State through employment generation(P-value 0.000< α 0.05). Finally, the study revealed that entrepreneurship education has significant effect on skills acquisition in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State (P-value 0.000< α 0.05). It was concluded that the contribution of entrepreneurship training and education on unemployment reduction through youth empowerment and wealth creation will be much significant if entrepreneurship is encouraged at all level in the state especially at local and community level. It was recommended among others that Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs should properly manage their business and create wealth for others through the revenue they generate by rendering financial assistance where necessary.Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Education, Unemployment, Benue, Nigeri