Browsing by Author "Akinbami, Catherine Abiola Oluwatoyin"

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    Comparative analysis of socio-cultural factors influencing rural female entrepreneurship development in southwest and southeast
    (Sociology and Anthroplogy, Obafemi Awolowo University, 2013) Akinbami, Catherine Abiola Oluwatoyin
    The study examined the entrepreneurship practice of rural women in Southwestern and Southeastern Nigeria; the role of socio-cultural factors (inheritance structure, belief system, widowhood practice, sex role) on entrepreneurship practices among rural women entrepreneurs in the study areas; the effect of socio-demographic variables on entrepreneurship development in the study areas; and determine the differences and similarities in entrepreneurship practices of rural women in Southwestern and Southeastern Nigeria. This was with a view to comparing the socio-cultural factors influencing rural women entrepreneurs. Primary data were used. For Southeast, all seven communities in Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) from Ebonyi North Senatorial District in Ebonyi State, being the youngest and least developed State and LGA; for Southwest, thirteen communities clustered around Ipetumodu, Ife North LGA, Osun State, were purposively selected. The target population sampled included rural women entrepreneurs involved in sale of farm products, fish processing, food processing and trading/artisans. The study used concurrent mixed method approach, that is, both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method employed questionnaire instrument to obtain data from 370 respondents in Southeast and 400 respondents in Southwest. For qualitative data, four Focus Group Discussions were organised in the two zones and eight interesting cases/stories of the women entrepreneurs. In addition, one family member and a neighbour were interviewed to understand how the communities and family members perceive the rural woman entrepreneur. Data collected from the questionnaire were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while Atlas ti was used to analyse the qualitative data. The results showed entrepreneurship practices of women in both zones started their businesses for survival (88%) while 12% was for identified opportunities, with differences in how they operated their businesses: while women in Southeast could be considered serial entrepreneurs, those in Southwest were stable. Bivariate analysis revealed that there was significant relationship between sources of initial capital (2=1.180, p<0.05) and entrepreneurship development as well as sources of funding for continuous management of business (2=49.476, p<0.05) and entrepreneurship development in the Southeast while it is not significant (2=4.943, p>0.05) (2=6.759, p>0.05) respectively in Southwest. Considering independent decisions against entrepreneurship development, there was significant relationship in the Southeast (2=39.360, p<0.05) while it is not significant in Southwest at (2=0.118, p>0.05). For cultural belief, (comprising of inheritance structure, belief system, and sex role) against entrepreneurship development, the result also showed significant relationship in the Southeast (2=1.107, p<0.05) while it was not significant in Southwest (2=0.420, p>0.05), Also, socio-demographic factors observed to have had some bearing on entrepreneurship development of rural women included their education (SE 2=16.763, p<0.05; SW 2=1.981, p>0.05); marital status (SE 2=9.179, p<0.05; SW 2=3.499, p>0.05) religious affiliation (SE 2=8.910, p<0.05; SW 2=2.972, p>0.05) income (SE 2=1.099, p>0.05; SW 2=5.711, p>0.05); age (SE 2=4.734, p>0.05; SW 2=6.763, p>0.05) and occupation (SE 2=1.638, p>0.05; SW 2=10.068, p<0.05). While there exists significant relationship in both regions for perception against entrepreneurship development (2=40.440, p<0.05) in Southeast and (2=38.260, p<0.05) in Southwest. The study concludes that entrepreneurship practices of rural women entrepreneurs in Southwest are better organized towards growth and development than their counterparts in Southeast.