DEPARTMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

This study examines the impact of mentorship programs on the success of small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Benin City, To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the study surveyed Osa-RT ventures and Edo choice transport limited, located in Benin city. The researcher adopted questionnaire in collecting relevant i formation for the study, the analysis is based on responses from 49 participants out of the 50 questionnaires distributed, resulting in a 98% response rate. The study highlight key factors that contribute to effective mentorship and the challenges SMEs face in accessing these programs. The research employs a quantitative approach, analyzing data through Pearson correlation coefficients. Findings indicate a strong positive correlation between access to mentorship and SME success (r = 0.471, p < 0.01), demonstrating that mentorship significantly enhances business performance. Additionally, successful mentorship relationships are influenced by factors such as goal alignment, regular communication, and mentor expertise (r = 0.297, p < 0.05). However, SMEs face challenges in accessing mentorship due to lack of awareness, difficulty in finding suitable mentors, and financial constraints (r = 0.505, p < 0.01). The study further establishes that improving mentorship access correlates with better SME performance (r = 0.645, p < 0.01). Based on these findings, recommendations include It is important to improve awareness of mentorship programs through targeted outreach and marketing, Mentorship programs should be designed to ensure clear goal alignment and facilitate regular communication between mentors and mentees and Mentorship programs should be customized to meet the specific needs and constraints of SMEs.

The study focus on social media marketing and its impact on small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. This study highlights the transformative impact of social media marketing on SMEs in Nigeria. Online strategies significantly improve profitability, customer engagement, cost efficiency, and innovation, positioning businesses for longterm success. However, challenges such as financial constraints, lack of technical know-how, and infrastructural limitations remain key barriers to widespread adoption. The objectives are to determine how search engine Marketing +influences the impact of
social media on SMEs., to determine how email marketing influences the impact of social media on SMEs., to determine how blog marketing influences the impact of social media on SMEs. And to determine how online advertising influences the impact of social mediaon SMEs. The findings of this study highlight the transformative impact of social media marketing on SMEs in Nigeria. Online strategies significantly improve profitability, customer engagement, cost efficiency, and innovation, positioning businesses for longterm success. However, challenges such as financial constraints, lack of technical know-how, and infrastructural limitations remain key barriers to widespread adoption.

This study examined the impact of entrepreneurial education on the profitability of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Edo State, Nigeria. The study in vestigated the effect of formal education, skill acquisition, and reading of business books on SME gross profit. A survey research design was adopted, and primary data were collected through structured questionnaire administered to SME owners and managers in Egor, Oredo, and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas of Edo State. Out of the questionnaire distributed, 121 valid responses were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression techniques were employed using SPSS to examine the relationships among the variables. The findings revealed that formal education, skill acquisition, and reading of business books all have positive and significant effects on SME profitability, with skill acquisition demonstrating the strongest influence on gross profit. The study
concludes that entrepreneurial education plays a critical role in improving the sustainability and financial outcomes of SMEs. It recommends greater emphasis on practical, skill-oriented training programs and continuous entrepreneurial learning
initiatives to strengthen SME profitability and contribute to sustainable economic development in Nigeria

This study examines the role of government policies in the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, focusing on access to finance, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed and successfully collected. Data analysis was conducted using tables, percentages, and chi-square analysis via SPSS software to test the research hypotheses. The findings reveal a significant relationship between government policies and access to finance for SMEs in Nigeria. Additionally, government regulatory policies have a significant effect on the business environment, and government infrastructural policies positively impact the operational performance of SMEs. The study highlights the crucial role of effective government interventions in fostering SME growth. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government implement policies that enhance financial access, simplify regulatory processes, and invest in infrastructure to create a more enabling environment for SMEs in Nigeria.

The study examines empirically the challenges faced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in assessing finance in Nigeria. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a vital role in economic transformation and industrialization both for developed and developing countries. Survey research design was employed through well-structured questionnaire of two sections which were administered to Accountants, Manager and owner) MSMEs in Egor Local Government area of Edo State. One hundred (100) questionnaire were administered to respondents out of which eighty-four (84) copies were retrieved from
the respondents and analyzed with simple percentage and statistical tool of Chi- square. The results of the analysis indicated that there are loan facilities provided for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by financial institutions in Nigeria. Also, there is relationship between processes and procedures involved in accessing loans and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from financial institutions in Nigeria, there are challenges associated with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) access to loans in Nigeria. Thus, the study recommends that Proper management and timely release of funds meant for SMEs by relevant bodies, formulation and implementation of appropriate policies in favour of MSMEs, building up technological capacity, knowledge flows and technology databases. Also, the operators of small scale business should operate in such a way that the commercial banks will be able improve their confidence in them and thereby see prospect in them

Among the most powerful forces affecting the world’s economy and commerce today is the substantial increase in globalisation through the use of information and communications Technologies (ICTs) (Kaynak et al., 2005). Kaynak et al (2005) sugges was revolutionary, now, it is simply evolutionary. E-commerce provides many opportunities to create better business economics (Oliver, 1999) and some have gone as far as indicating that e- commerce is the “great equalizer” (Quinn, 1999), if these statements are true then it would mean that businesses should be receiving some sort of benefit from the implementation of these
technologies. The ability of the World Wide Web (WWW) to facilitate communication has triggered the need for businesses to think about new ways of conducting their affairs (Herbig and Hale, 1997; Pattinson and Brown 1996; Hamill, 1997). As the medium has been suffering from substantial hype, it would appear that business operators have been reluctant to participate in the e-commerce environment, although various researchers are predicting phenomenal growth in the near future (Hamill, 1997).

The study examined entrepreneurship development as a panacea for employment creation. The objectives of the study were to find out if entrepreneurship development has been a useful tool for employment creation in Nigeria, find out if the compulsory entrepreneurship education in institution can stimulate entrepreneurship skills in future graduates, and explore the effectiveness of entrepreneurship development course/training on unemployment reduction in Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive research design as it uses both quantitative and qualitative data at the same time by merging the data and using the results to understand a research problem. The targeted population for the study comprised registered entrepreneurs in South-
South Nigeria. However, for this study, the population was drawn from entrepreneurs in Benin City in which the population consists of (300) three-hundred respondents. Hence, the sample size for the study comprised of eighty-three (83) entrepreneurs in Benin City. The data for the study were presented in tables, using frequencies and percentages. The hypotheses were tested using
the chi-square distribution formula. The findings from the study revealed that entrepreneurship development has been a useful tool for employment creation, entrepreneurial development strategies has created good opportunities to startup businesses, entrepreneurship development always give birth to job creation which encourages the people to do something that will better
their lives and the country at large, entrepreneurship development has led to the development of indigenous entrepreneurship and increase utility of local resources, increasing incidence of youth unemployment in Nigeria has been associated with weaknesses in entrepreneurship education. The study then recommended that promoting entrepreneurship should be high in the agenda of governments seeking growth. To achieve this, the policy makers should be more precise in their macro and micro policy directions to target their efforts in promoting entrepreneurship as an effective instrument in defeating recession in the country, policy makers should tailor make the entrepreneurship spurring programs based on the specific requirements of these categories of entrepreneurs during economic recession, and that, regarding the industry composition (relative entries rates in different industries), policy makers should focus on industries that attract moreopportunity and necessity entrepreneurs during recession in the short term.

The study investigated the financial literacy and sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Benin Metropolis, Edo State. The research design adopted for this study is the descriptive survey research design. The population for this study was made up of all small scale business owners in Benin City, Edo State. According to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), there are 69,104 registered small scale businesses in Benin City, Edo State. The study’s sample size consisted of 100 small-scale business owners which were selected from four communities in Benin City, Edo State: Uselu, Oluku, Isihor, and Egor. The data collected for this study was analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentages while the hypotheses for the study were tested using chi-square method.

This study examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in early childhood development, with a specific focus on literacy programs for orphaned children in Nigeria. The research explores how orphanages and NGO-led initiatives contribute to children's reading, writing, and spoken language comprehension. Using a survey research design approach, data were collected through a structured questionnaire from three selected orphanages in three local government areas in Benin City. The findings reveal that structured literacy programs within orphanages significantly enhance children's reading and writing abilities, while NGO interventions, including speech development programs and interactive storytelling, improve spoken language comprehension. Based on these findings, the recommendations made include increased funding for orphanages, expansion of NGO literacy programs, integration of these initiatives into national education policies, and enhanced community involvement. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of orphanage and NGO literacy programs in improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children in Nigeria.

This study examines the relationship between risk tolerance and entrepreneurial success in Nigeria, focusing on businesses inBenin City. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a sample size of 100 entrepreneurs, out of which 63 completed responses were retrieved. Data was analyzed using tables, percentages. Findings reveal that while risk-taking is essential for growth and innovation, many entrepreneurs face challenges such as economic instability, limited financial support, and regulatory hurdles. Younger entrepreneurs tend to exhibit higher risk tolerance, while others adopt a more cautious approach. High-risk tolerance fosters business growth and competitiveness but also increases the likelihood of failure, whereas low-risk tolerance limits expansion opportunities and long-term sustainability. The study highlights the crucial role of government policies, financial institutions, and mentorship programs in shaping risk tolerance. Supportive measures such as tax incentives, access to affordable credit, financial literacy training, and business insurance can help entrepreneurs manage risks more effectively. Strengthening mentorship and networking opportunities, encouraging research-driven innovation, and simplifying
bureaucratic processes will foster a more risk-tolerant business environment. By implementing these strategies, stakeholders can enhance entrepreneurial confidence, drive business success, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.