EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ON

GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN TARABA

STATE NIGERIA

BY

AJI, C JAMES

JULY, 2024

i
 DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this thesis was written by me and it is a record of my own research work. It
has not been presented before in any previous application for a higher degree. All references
cited have been acknowledged.

___________________________ DATE____________________

AJI, C. JAMES
PG/PGD/BUS/21/001

ii
EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ON GROWTH
OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN TARABA STATE NIGERIA

BY

AJI, C JAMES

PG/PGD/BUS/21/001

BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES, FEDERAL
UNIVERSITY WUKARI, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD GRADUATE DIPLOMA DEGREE IN
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

JULY, 2024

iii
 DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to God Almighty, the giver of wisdom and inspiration for this work and
to my dynamic wife, Gift Aji James and our great children, Esther Aji, James, David Aji James
and Gospel Aji James.

iv
 ACKNOWLEDEMENT

I am highly grateful to God Almighty for His unwavering love, care and His Plethora of mercies
towards my life and family, and also for unleashing supernatural insights for this timeless and
life changing work. I equally thank my thoughtful, articulate, heaven bound and God fearing
supervisor, Dr. Kappe Peter Mamman for his effective scrutiny, careful proof reading and
corrections from start to the finishing.

Moreover, I express my profound gratitude to the Head of Department both outgone (Prof. S.I
Ukpata) and the present one Dr. Rimamnde Rikwentishe for their encouragement, support and
guidance throughout my programe.

I want to also specially salute my lecturers in persons of Dr. Obabuike I. Npurukwe, Dr. J.P
Ozah, Dr. Emmanuel Nwoka, Dr. Taiwo. I would have loved to mention all their names but for
want of time I am constraints but I possess your best interest in my heart, your contributions
constitutes a major platform upon which this work stands.

I must acknowledge my parents in persons of Mr/Mrs. James Rabo Aji for their prayers, love and
encouragement to me, may God daze you with blessing. I equally thank my father in the Lord
Pst. Joshua Saba of the Living Faith Church.

I also thank my beautiful and lovely wife, Gift Aji, My Children and Siblings for their
encouragement and support.

v
 ABSTRACT

This study examined the “effect of entrepreneurial development programmes on growth of small
and medium enterprises in Taraba State.

The data for this work was collected through questionnaire administered to 400 respondents
from various Local Government Area (LGAs) in Taraba State. A total of 400 copies of
questionnaires administered randomly to small businesses, entrepreneurs, businesses managers.

The study also applied descriptive statistics, under here the descriptive statistics provides an
overview of the respondents demographic and perceptions of YES programme, entrepreneurial
incubators, and entrepreneurial education.

The findings from the descriptive statistics and hypothesis indicate that various entrepreneurial
development programmes have a significant impact on the growth of SMEs in Taraba State,
Nigeria.

vi
 APPROVAL

This thesis titled “Effect of Entrepreneurial Development Programmes on Growth of small and

Medium Enterprises in Taraba State” meets the regulations governing the award of degree of

post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration of the Federal University Wukari and is

approved for its contribution to knowledge and Literary presentation.

Dr. Kappe Peter Mamman Signature ____________________

(Supervisor) Date________________________

Dr. ___________________ Signature____________________

(Internal Examiner) Date________________________

Dr. Rimamnde Rikwentishe Signature____________________

(Head of Department) Date________________________

Prof. Masoyi, A.D Signature____________________

(Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies) Date________________________

vii
 TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE………………………………………………………………………………………i

DECLARATION………………………………………………………………………………….ii

CERTIFICATION………………………………………………………………………………..iii

DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………………………iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………………………...v

ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………...vi

APPROVAL………………………………………………………………………………...…...vii

TABLE OF CONTENT………………...……………………………………………………viii-xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study………………………………………………………………………1

1.2 Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………………………...3
1.3 Objectives of the study………………………………………………………………………...4
1.4 Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………4
1.5 Hypothesis of the study………………………………………………………………………..5
1.6 Scope of the study……………………………………………………………………………..6
1.7 Limitation of the study……………………………………………………………………...…7
1.8 Significance of the study………………………………………………………………………5
1.9 Definition of key terms………………………………………………………………………..7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Conceptual Framework………………………………………………..………………………9

2.1.1 Concept of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Programmes……………………….…9
2.1.2 Concept of Entrepreneurship………………………………………………………….…16
2.1.3 Concept of Entrepreneurial Development Programmes…………………………………17
2.1.4 Concept of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)……………………………………..18
2.1.5 Concept of Youth Empowerment Scheme……………………………………………….21
2.1.6 Entrepreneurial Incubators and Growth of SMEs………………………………………..24

viii
2.1.7 Entrepreneurial Education and Growth of SMEs………………………………………..25
2.1.8 Entrepreneurship Education……………………………………………………………..27
2.1.9 Overview of the Domestic Economy…………………………………………………….28

2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK…………………………………………………………...32

2.2.1 Contigency theory………………………………………………………………………….33

2.2.2 Economic theory of Entrepreneurship……………………………………………………..33

2.2.3 The management skills school of thought…………………………………………………34

2.3 EMPIRICAL REVIEW……………………………………………………………………...34

2.3.1 Entrepreneurial Youth Empowerment Scheme and Growth of SMEs…………………….35

2.3.2 Entrepreneurial Incubators and Growth of SMEs………………………………………….37

2.3.3 Entrepreneurial Education and Growth of SMEs………………………………………….38

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research design……………………………………………………………………………...44

3.2 Area of Study………………………………………………………………………………...44

3.3 Population of the Study………………………………………………………………………45

3.4 Determination of Sample Size……………………………………………………………….45

3.4.1 Sampling Techniques and method: the study adopted purposive sampling technique…….46

3.5 Instrument for data collection………………………………………………………………..47

3.6 Sources and types of data collection…………………………………………………………47

3.7 Validity of Research Instrument……………………………………………………………..48

3.8 Techniques of Data Analysis………………………………………………………………...48

3.8.1 Decision rules and Assumptions…………………………………………………………...49

Test of Normality

ix
CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data Presentation…………………………………………………………………………….52

4.2 Data analysis…………………………………………………………………………………52

4.2.1 Assessment of Data Analysis method……………………………………………………...52

4.2.2 Results of Assessment models used………………………………………………………..53

4.2.3 Evaluation of Reflective measurement models…………………………………………….53

4.2.4 Indicator Reliability………………………………………………………………………..53

4.2.5 Reliability of the study……………………………………………………………………..53

4.2.6 Data Generation for Hypothesis Testing…………………………………………………...54

4.3 Descriptive Statistics…………………………………………………………………………54

4.4 Hypothesis testing……………………………………………………………………………59

4.5 Summary of Findings………………………………………………………………………...59

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ON OBJECTIVES

5.1 Discussion of Findings on Objective One…………………………………………………...61

5.2 Discussion of Findings on Objective Two…………………………………………………...61

5.3 Discussion of Findings on Objective Three………………………………………………….62

CHAPTER SIX

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1 Summary……………………………………………………………………………………..63

6.2 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………...63

6.3 Recommendation…………………………………………………………………………….63

6.4 Contribution to Knowledge………………………………………………………………….64

6.5 Need for Further Research Studies…………………………………………………………..64

x
Reference……………………………………………………………………………………...…66

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Descriptive Statistics..................................................................................................56

Table 2 Model Summary…………………………………………………………………….58

Table 3 Regression Results………………………………………………………………….58

Table 4 Regression Coefficient………………………………………………………………58

xi