Contributions of Tiv Women Entrepreneurs to the Socio-Economic Development of Tiv Land.

Abstract:

The study assessed the role of women entrepreneurs to the socio-economic development of Tivland. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the major entrepreneurial activities undertaken by women, the roles played by women entrepreneurs to socio-economic development, the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in and to proffer measures that can remedy the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Tivland. Questionnaires and focus group discussion were used to collect data from respondents while the collected data was analyzed quantitatively with the use of descriptive statistics and qualitatively by transcribing responses of discussants. 374 respondents were selected for the study for the study. The findings of the study revealed that agriculture, manufacturing, services and trading were the major entrepreneurial activities undertaken by women in Tivland. On the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the socio-economic development of the study area, the study found poverty alleviation, employment, community development among others as the major contributions of women entrepreneurs to the socio-economic development of Tivland. Challenges such as poor access to credit facilities, low literacy level, lack of finance, poor government support, family constraints and gender gaps were found to be the major challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the study area. The study therefore recommended acquisition of managerial skills and training, granting women access to credit facilities, government support, family support and joining financial support associations as measures that can ameliorate the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the study area.