ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs) IN NIGERIA: ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Employment Enterpreneurship and Skills Development, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Abstract
In most developing countries, People with Disabilities (PWDs) are generally seen as helpless, contemptible, and awful with their livelihood depending on people's sympathy. But recently, there
has been a shift in the paradigm. PWDs now undertake viable businesses to make ends meet and contribute to national growth. Inherent challenges associated with small businesses are complicated with PWDs. Thus, this study evaluated entrepreneurship challenges faced by and the prospects of business success of PWDs in developing countries, Nigeria in particular. The research adopted
survey design methodology. Four states in Nigeria have the highest number of PWDs that engaged
in entrepreneurship according to information obtained from the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) and these states made up the population of this study. In
selecting an appropriate sample size, the research used a multi-stage sampling technique. Social
discrimination, family support, risk taking, entrepreneurial education, skills, and finance are the key variables of the study. Primary data sourced from respondents using the administration of structured questionnaires were employed. This study made use of Structural Equation Model (SEM) on the
SMARTPLS 3 application to analyze the gathered data. The study found that social discrimination, family support and risk taking have a positive effect on PWDs business success, while finance,
entrepreneurial education and skills top the list of challenges of PWDs business success. The study included that there are inherent challenges and possible prospects to PWDs business success. Key recommendations from this study is that entrepreneurial training, and skills acquisition ought to be modified to meet the needs of the PWDs entrepreneurs while access to finance should also be made available to enhance PWDs business success. Hence, the government - at all levels - should provide institutional vocational centers with needed human and material resources to educate PWDs as well.
Description
Keywords
PWDs, Enterpreneurship, Skills, Social Discrimination, Start-up capital, Education
Citation
Gunu, U., Omolekan, O.J.,Olota, O.O & Ashiru,A.(2021). Entrepreneurship and people with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria: Analysis of Challenges and Prospects,Journal of African Employment Entrepreneurship and Skills Development,3(1), 95-108, Published by African Employment Entrepreneurship and Skills Development, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.