Benue State University, Makurdi

Women and Entrepreneurship Development in Benue State: Issues and Challenges

Ochugudu, A. I (Department of Business Management, Benue State University)

Abstract

In traditional societies, women were confined to the four walls of the houses performing household activities. In modern societies, they have come out of the four walls to participate in all sorts of activities. They have been performing exceedingly well in different spheres of activities like academics, politics, administration, social works and so on. Now, they have started plunging into industries and are also running their own enterprises successfully. In Benue State, women entrepreneurial activities are highly concentrated in commerce, food processing, service, transportation, agriculture, education etc. This has grown significantly between 1999 2004 due to democratic dividend, necessity, opportunity and gender awareness (campaign for women empowerment). The resultant benefit of this growth has manifested in job creation, economic growth, reduction in family crisis/social vices, new technology, products and services etc. Despite this, Benue women entrepreneurs are still faced with serious challenges arising from inadequate access to capital, limited mobility, family ties, and low-risk bearing ability. Thus, for Benue women entrepreneurs to substantially contribute their quota to the economic development of the state, government and other institutional financiers must make it possible for women to have ease of access to funds, provide a conducive environment to encourage women entrepreneurial participation, change societal attitudes/perception about women roles and ability and finally, induction courses on risk management should be organized by government and other organized private bodieg to train women on risk management.

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE (CLICK)