Gusau Journal of Entrepreneurship Development

ENTREPRENEURIAL COGNITIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND ENTERPRISE GROWTH IN ZAMFARA STATE: A STUDY OF OPPORTUNITY- DRIVEN EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURS

2026-09-24T09:31:39+00:00

This study investigates the relationship between cognitive entrepreneurial characteristics and enterprise growth in Zamfara State. Utilizing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 366 early-stage entrepreneurs across the manufacturing, education, and wholesale and retail trade sectors in six local governments. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses regarding the impact of key cognitive traits self-efficacy, alertness to opportunity, and innovativeness on enterprise growth, measured by sales and employee growth. The findings reveal a significant and positive relationship between the examined cognitive characteristics and enterprise growth, underscoring the importance of these traits in fostering the success of early-stage enterprises in the region. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the critical role of cognitive traits in entrepreneurial growth, particularly within a developing economy context. Based on the results, it is recommended that both entrepreneurs and policymakers prioritize the development of these cognitive traits through targeted educational programs and strategic initiatives, as they are pivotal to driving business growth and economic development in Zamfara State.

CULTURAL COGNITION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY PERCEPTION: TOWARD AN INTEGRATED CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

2026-09-24T09:55:23+00:00

Entrepreneurial opportunity perception remains central to entrepreneurship theory as it links environmental conditions to entrepreneurial action. However, existing literature often treats culture as a background variable without formalising it into testable cognitive constructs. This limits a clear understanding of how cultural patterns shape cognition, opportunity framing, and subsequent entrepreneurial behaviour, particularly across diverse institutional contexts. This study aims to: (1) synthesise insights from cognitive, cross-cultural, and entrepreneurship literature; (2) develop operational cultural–cognitive constructs that explain opportunity perception; and (3) advance propositions linking these constructs to discovery- and creation-oriented opportunity processes. The study adopts a conceptual review approach, integrating interdisciplinary literature to identify and formalise key cultural–cognitive constructs, including cultural uncertainty tolerance, improvisation schemas, interpretive repertoires, and collective opportunity scripts. A conceptual framework is developed to illustrate the relationships between these constructs, opportunity perception modes, and entrepreneurial outcomes. The review reveals that opportunity perception is not purely an individual cognitive process but is deeply embedded in culturally patterned systems of meaning. The proposed constructs systematically explain variations in how entrepreneurs interpret uncertainty, frame opportunities, and engage in discovery versus creation processes. The framework highlights how cultural cognition shapes entrepreneurial action and innovation pathways. The study advances entrepreneurship theory by integrating culture and cognition into a unified, testable framework. It demonstrates that culturally embedded cognition is a critical determinant of opportunity perception and provides a more nuanced explanation of cross-contextual variations in entrepreneurial behaviour. The study recommends that researchers empirically test the proposed constructs across diverse cultural contexts. Entrepreneurship educators should incorporate culturally informed cognitive training, while policymakers and practitioners should design context-sensitive interventions that enhance opportunity framing and innovation capacity.

BUILDING THE SKILLS GAP IN HIGHER (TEACHER) EDUCATION THROUGH HANDS-ON SKILLS TRAINING: INVESTIGATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GIDAN MADI ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER IN FOSTERING BUSINESS START-UPS AMONG STUDENTS

2026-09-24T10:02:46+00:00

ABSTRACT

This study examines the contributions of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Gidan Madi Entrepreneurship Center in fostering business start-ups and promoting self-reliance among students.As a newly established teacher education institution aiming to become a model entrepreneurship hub, the center provides diverse skill-based training designed to equip students with competencies required for the modern economy. The center serves as an innovation and skill-incubation hub where students engage in hands-on training in areas such as tailoring, soap making,knitting, hair product formulation, air freshener production, and ICT. The high rate of unemployment in Nigeria has been largely attributed to the lack of practical skill acquisition in higher education, leaving many graduates without the capacity to establish sustainable enterprises. This study therefore investigates how hands-on skills training can bridge the gap between theoretical education and entrepreneurial practice. The research specifically evaluates the effectiveness of the center's training programs in enhancing students' entrepreneurial mindset, intention, and ability to start and sustain businesses. It also examines the alignment of these programs with national education policies and government initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment and promoting self-employment. A mixed-method approach was adopted, utilizing questionnaires administered to students and instructors, alongside interviews with stakeholders. The findings provide valuable insights into the role of practical entrepreneurship education in enhancing employability, fostering innovation, and supporting business start-ups among students in teacher training institutions.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN NORTHWEST NIGERIA: A MIXED-METHODS STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING APPROACH

2026-09-24T10:27:04+00:00

This study delves into the multi-dimensional relationship between financial inclusion and entrepreneurial success, with the mediating role of financial literacy and the moderating role of socio-cultural norms in an Islamic financial environment for Muslim women in Northwest Nigeria. Although the link between gender and finance has gained traction over the last few years, the empirical evidence on the interaction between gender, religion and entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa is still nascent. This was done with a sequential explanatory mixed methods design involving 487 valid questionnaires that were analyzed using Quantitative (Structural Equation Modeling, AMOS-SEM) and 32 semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using Qualitative (Thematic Analysis) procedures with a geographical stratified random sampling across the study areas of Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara States each. Results show that the use of credit, mobilization of savings, DFS and Islamic microfinance play very important role in the success of Muslim women entrepreneurs. Financial literacy in part enhances this link as they gain access to financial services and access to financial services is linked to outcome of the business, which is affected by socio-cultural norms. The qualitative results also highlight issues of structural exclusion, adaptive financial solutions that are compatible with Sharia law, and the empowerment function of solidarity networks within the community. This study not only fills the literature gap in financial inclusion and Muslim women entrepreneurship in the Northwest geopolitical of Nigeria but also for the first time is an integration of the Women Financial Inclusion Framework with the Social Feminist Theory and Islamic Finance Theory to create a Contextualised Islamic Financial Inclusion–Entrepreneurial Success (CIFIE-S) model.
The keywords used in this study are financial inclusion, Muslim women entrepreneurs, Islamic microfinance, entrepreneurial success and Sharia-compliant finance.

EFFECT OF PRICING STRATEGIES ON SMEs PERFORMANCE OF SOME SELECTED SUPER MARKET IN KADUNA METROPOLIS

2026-09-24T11:26:16+00:00

This study examined the effect of pricing strategies on the performance of some selected Super market in Kaduna Metropolis. The study seeks to determine the effect of cost-informed pricing, competitive pricing, and value-informed pricing strategies on the performance of some selected super market in Kaduna Metropolis. Data were gathered through survey questionnaires self-administered to the respondent of the study. The study adopted a quantitative and descriptive research method to gather data from 63 valid respondents of the study. However, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used to ascertain the relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables. The study results revealed that some variables of pricing strategies, such as cost informed pricing and value informed pricing with Beta values (0.009 and 0.016) respectively indicates an insignificant effect on the performance of some selected super market in Kaduna Metropolis with a (p-value =0.52 and 0.80) >0.05. Thus, competitive informed pricing is statistically significant with a p-value =0.03<0.05. The study concludes that competitive informed pricing is vital to make the operation more important to improve the performance of some selected super market in Kaduna Metropolis. The study therefore recommended that super market operators should blend different pricing strategies like cost informed pricing and perceived value pricing to optimize super market performance.

DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT USING SECONDARY MACRO-LEVEL DATA

2026-09-24T11:43:55+00:00

Over the past ten years Nigeria's financial system has been reshaped by digital technology, yet the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, the source of most of the country's jobs, still points to limited access to finance as the single biggest obstacle to its operations. This paper investigates how digital financial inclusion (DFI) relates to MSME sector performance in Nigeria, drawing on secondary macro-level time-series data from 2014 to 2024 sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) Access to Finance surveys. DFI is captured through mobile money transaction value, NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) transaction volume, and the EFInA-reported formal financial inclusion rate, while MSME performance is captured through the sector's contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its share of national employment. A descriptive trend analysis of the assembled data shows digital payment infrastructure and certain MSME output indicators moving in the same broad direction, although the relationship is uneven rather than linear across the period, shaped by the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the currency redesign policy, and general macroeconomic instability on the size of the MSME population. The central argument is that digital financial inclusion helps but is not sufficient on its own to drive MSME performance gains in Nigeria; complementary work on infrastructure, credit guarantee schemes, and digital literacy is still needed to turn payment-system access into real enterprise growth. The paper closes with policy recommendations aimed at the Central Bank of Nigeria, SMEDAN, and deposit money banks.

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA: THE EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT EDUCATION EXPENDITURE

2026-09-24T11:50:10+00:00

Inspired by the human capital theory, this paper seeks to answer the question of whether Nigeria's economic growth has been boosted by the government's investment in education from 1990 to 2023. Education's share of government spending is the independent variable, while GDP per capita growth is the dependent variable. The variables under consideration are of various orders of integration and hence the authors resort to the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration supported by the Error Correction Model (ECM) to capture the short-run adjustment. However, when these factors are taken into account, and GDP per capita growth is regressed on education spending as a share of GDP, a clear long-run relationship is observed, with education spending's coefficient of 0.48: for every 1 percentage point increase in education spending as a share of GDP, the GDP per capita grows by approximately 0.48 percentage points over time. The error correction term (−0.48) means that approximately 48% of the difference from that equilibrium is corrected within a year. These estimates are robust under a typical battery of tests of serial correlation, heteroskedasticity, functional form, and parameter stability. Based on these findings, the paper calls for a change in Nigeria's approach to education spending to meet the UNESCO target of 15-20% of government expenditure on education to derive more benefits from education as a tool for human capital development and inclusive growth.

PLANT-BASED MOSQUITO REPELLENT PRODUCTS: A REVIEW FOR COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE

2026-09-24T12:17:14+00:00

Mosquitoes are among the most important vectors of infectious diseases affecting humans, including malaria, lymphatic filariasis, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika virus disease. Preventing mosquito from human contact is the most important component of personal protection and integrated vector management. Although synthetic repellents such as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), picaridin and IR3535 are widely used, interest in plant-based repellents has increased because of their biological activity, renewable origin and potential for local production. Plant-derived repellents are obtained mainly from essential oils, fixed oils, extracts and purified phytochemicals. Important botanical sources include Cymbopogon spp. (citronella and lemongrass), Azadirachta indica (neem), Ocimum spp. (basil), Eucalyptus spp., Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Mentha spp., Lantana camara, Carapa guianensis and several other aromatic plants. A recent systematic review of studies published from 2020–2024 reported high repellency for several essential oils, although the authors emphasized that much of the evidence remains laboratory-based and that field validation is needed. Plant-based mosquito repellents have considerable potential as complementary personal-protection products, particularly where locally available botanical resources can be developed into affordable formulations. However, they should be considered as one component of integrated mosquito management rather than as a replacement for established vector-control interventions.

EFFECTS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES ON SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED INTERPRISES (SMEs) PERFORMANCE IN JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

2026-09-24T12:29:12+00:00

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute an important component of economic development through their contributions to employment generation, income creation, poverty reduction and business development. However, many SMEs continue to experience challenges associated with business survival, growth, competitiveness and sustainability. Entrepreneurial competencies are considered important capabilities that enable entrepreneurs to identify opportunities, manage resources, make effective decisions and respond to changing business environments. This study examined the effects of entrepreneurial competencies on SMEs performance in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the effects of personal competency, social competency and professional competency on SMEs performance. The study was anchored on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Competency-Based View (CBV). A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The study population comprised 13,912 registered SMEs in Jigawa State in which 389 SMEs were selected for the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and SmartPLS 4. The findings revealed that personal competency had a positive and significant relationship with SMEs performance (β = 0.217, t = 8.289, p = 0.026). Social competency also had a positive and significant relationship with SMEs performance (β = 0.109, t = 4.344, p = 0.025), while professional competency had a positive and significant relationship with SMEs performance (β = 0.055, t = 6.082, p = 0.010). The findings demonstrate that entrepreneurial competencies are important intangible resources and capabilities for enhancing SME performance. The study recommends continuous development of entrepreneurs' personal, social and professional competencies through training, mentoring, networking and entrepreneurship development programmes.

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON NIGERIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH: AN ARDL APPROACH, 1999–2025

2026-09-24T13:32:58+00:00

This study examines effect of unemployment in Nigeria's economic growth (1999–2025), anchored in Endogenous Growth Theory, which links human capital utilization to long-run growth. Real GDP (logged) is modelled as a function of unemployment, population, inflation, and government capital expenditure. Given mixed integration orders, the ARDL bounds-testing approach and Error Correction Model estimate short- and long-run dynamics. Cointegration is confirmed at the 10 percent level. Unemployment has a negative significant ffect on output in both periods, with persistence across two lags reflecting labour-market shocks that erode human capital rather than dissipate quickly. Inflation and government capital expenditure are insignificant, while population is positive and significant in the long run. The error correction term (−0.7225) shows about 72 percent of short-run disequilibrium corrected within one period. Unemployment is a structural constraint on growth, warranting targeted employment-generating investment, efficient public capital allocation, skills development, and price-stabilising macroeconomic policy.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AND ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SMALL AND MEDIUM-SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NASARAWA STATE, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

2026-09-24T13:43:14+00:00

The performance of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria, has remained persistently below potential despite the rapid proliferation of digital technologies across the Nigerian business landscape. While digital payment and digital marketing technologies have been widely promoted as drivers of enterprise growth, empirical evidence on their specific effects on SME performance within Nasarawa State context remains limited. This study examines the effect of digital technology adoption, through digital payment technology adoption and digital marketing technology adoption, on the performance of SMEs in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, with a sample of 386 SME owners/managers selected from a population of 10,728 registered SMEs using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire adapted from previously validated instruments, and analysis was conducted using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0. The study concludes that SMEs operating within a digitally enabled business environment are measurably more productive, profitable and competitive, and that strengthening digital payment infrastructure and digital marketing capabilities in Nasarawa State is a development priority with direct implications for job creation, rural enterprise growth and economic diversification. Recommendations include expanding digital payment infrastructure to rural areas, introducing digital literacy and marketing training programmes for SME owners, and creating incentives for the adoption of integrated digital business solutions.

CHALLENGES TO STUDENT BUSINESS START-UPS AFTER ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS TRAINING IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA

2026-09-24T13:50:30+00:00

Entrepreneurship education has become a strategic intervention for addressing graduate unemployment and promoting self-employment in Nigeria. In response to the growing unemployment challenge, Colleges of Education have integrated entrepreneurship education and practical skills training into their curricula to equip students with competencies required for venture creation. Despite these efforts, relatively few graduates successfully establish sustainable businesses after completing entrepreneurship training, indicating the existence of persistent barriers beyond skills acquisition. This paper examines the challenges to student business start-ups after entrepreneurship skills training in Colleges of Education in North-West Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigates financial, institutional, mentorship, infrastructural, regulatory, and socio-cultural constraints affecting students' transition from entrepreneurship training to business ownership. The paper also explores the implications of these challenges for graduate employability, economic development, and entrepreneurship policy. A descriptive survey research design is proposed, targeting final-year students and recent graduates from selected Colleges of Education in the North-West geopolitical zone. Findings provided empirical evidence for policymakers, educational administrators, entrepreneurship centre managers, and development agencies seeking to improve entrepreneurship education outcomes and strengthen graduate business creation. The study recommends improved access to start-up finance, structured mentorship programmes, stronger institutional support, business incubation centres, and enhanced collaboration between Colleges of Education and industry.

EFFECTIVENESS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA

2026-10-08T11:21:19+00:00

Entrepreneurship is widely regarded as a critical lever for employment generation and poverty alleviation in developing economies. This study examines the effectiveness of entrepreneurship development in promoting employment and reducing poverty in Nigeria over 1990-2025, addressing the persistent gap between decades of policy commitment, exemplified by the National Directorate of Employment, and continuing high unemployment and poverty. Using annual time-series data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, World Development Indicators, and National Bureau of Statistics, the study applies Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds-testing models to employment and poverty as functions of entrepreneurship-related expenditure, capital formation, inflation, and unemployment. Results confirm long-run cointegration in both models. Entrepreneurship related expenditure significantly boosts employment, correcting 98.7% of short-run disequilibrium annually; poverty results remain inconclusive due to diagnostic anomalies. The study concludes that entrepreneurship development is effective, though not self-sustaining, and recommends ring-fenced financing and stronger interagency coordination.

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE, FREE CASH FLOW AND DIVIDEND POLICY OF LISTED CONSUMER GOODS COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

2026-10-08T13:14:20+00:00

This study investigated how ownership structure, free cash flow, and dividend policy influence the performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria over a thirteen-year period from 2012 to 2024. An ex-post facto research design was adopted, relying entirely on secondary data obtained from seventeen (17) out of the twenty-one (21) consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group as of 31 December 2024. The analysis employed multiple regression techniques alongside descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation.The findings show that managerial ownership (MO) and institutional ownership (IO) each exert a significant positive effect on the dividend payments of listed consumer goods firms. Free cash flow (FCF) also demonstrates a significant effect, though in a negative direction, indicating that higher free cash flow is associated with lower dividend payouts within the sector. However, ownership concentration (OC) was found to have a positive but statistically insignificant influence on dividend payout, suggesting that concentrated shareholding does not meaningfully shape dividend decisions among these companies.Based on these results, the study concludes that ownership structure particularly managerial and institutional ownership as well as free cash flow meaningfully affect dividend payment behaviour, whereas ownership concentration does not. Consequently, the study recommends that consumer goods firms strengthen managerial and institutional equity holdings and enhance free cash flow management in ways that align managerial interests with the overall goals of the firm while reducing the gap between ownership and control through lower levels of concentrated shareholding.

ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND PERFORMANCE OF MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES IN VERITAS UNIVERSITY, ABUJA

2026-10-08T13:24:21+00:00

This study examined the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on business performance among Micro and Small enterprises in Veritas University, Abuja. The study is anchored on personality trait and Resource-Based View (RBV) theories. Measures of entrepreneurial orientation are risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness while business performance is measured by a combination of financial and non-financial indicators of success. Sample size of 154 was selected a population of 250 registered enterprises at Veritas University. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. The questionnaire was administered electronically using Goggle form. Out of the 154 questionnaires administered only 129 respondents responded. Data from the questionnaire were analysed using regression analysis with the aid of IBM SPSS v26.0. The findings showed that innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness individually have significant positive effect on the performance. The result also showed that innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness jointly have a significant positive effect on the performance. However, in the joint model, individual predictor of performance behaved differently with risk-taking and proactiveness having significant positive effect on performance while innovativeness has no significant effect. It is recommended that entrepreneurs who have the desire to improve business performance through entrepreneurial orientation should not solely rely on innovativeness because of its modest positive effect on performance, but should integrate innovativeness with risk-taking and proactiveness to create a more comprehensive strategy for success.

CYBERSECURITY MATURITY AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF LISTED INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FIRMS IN NIGERIA

2026-10-08T13:35:12+00:00

The persistent concern over the weak financial performance of listed ICT firms in Nigeria despite growing digital investments underscores the need to examine the influence of cybersecurity maturity and ICT capital intensity. This study investigates the effect of cybersecurity disclosure and ICT capital expenditure intensity on the financial performance of listed ICT firms in Nigeria between 2019 and 2024. Using an ex-post facto research design, data were obtained from the audited annual reports of six ICT firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. The study employed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, diagnostic tests, and panel regression to analyze the relationships among variables. Findings reveal that ICT capital expenditure intensity has a positive and statistically significant impact on financial performance, indicating that increased ICT investment substantially enhances profitability through improved efficiency and innovation. On the other hand, cybersecurity disclosure exhibits a positive but statistically insignificant relationship with financial performance, suggesting that cybersecurity reporting practices in Nigerian ICT firms are still evolving and not yet translating into measurable profitability gains. The study concludes that technological investment is the primary driver of financial performance in Nigeria’s ICT sector. It recommends that firms intensify ICT capital spending, enhance cybersecurity reporting frameworks to attract investor confidence, and adopt leaner management structures to mitigate the inefficiencies associated with large firm size.

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SCHOOLING, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND CURRICULUM GAPS IN FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURIAL ASPIRATION AND ENTERPRISE CULTURE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN NORTHWEST, NIGERIA

2026-10-08T13:48:59+00:00

This study examined the role of schooling, social capital, and curriculum gaps in shaping This entrepreneurial aspirations and enterprise culture among undergraduates in Northwest Nigeria. It employed a descriptive survey design, involving 400 undergraduates from four public universities across Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kaduna States, selected through a multi-stage stratified random sampling process. A structured questionnaire, validated by experts in curriculum studies and entrepreneurship education and subjected to a reliability test yielding a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.81, was used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that curriculum content in the sampled universities exhibits a moderate but insufficient integration of entrepreneurship-oriented learning experiences, that undergraduates' access to social capital (family networks, mentorship, and community ties) significantly predicts entrepreneurial aspiration, and that gaps between the formal curriculum and lived enterprise culture persist across disciplines and gender lines. The study concludes that curriculum reform alone, without deliberate attention to the sociological structures that mediate access to opportunity, is unlikely to produce a robust enterprise culture. Recommendations include embedding experiential entrepreneurship modules across all faculties, institutionalising structured mentorship and networking schemes, and mainstreaming sociological content on social capital into curriculum planning processes in Nigerian universities.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PERFORMANCE IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

2026-10-08T13:58:33+00:00

This study investigates the impact of innovation on entrepreneurship performance in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study employ survey design method. The scope of the study covers formal enterprises in Kaduna state with a population of 38908 and sample size of 396 derived from Yamane formula. Primary source of data was gathered through the instrument of questionnaire. The study adopts stratified random sampling technique. Quantitative analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that technological innovation, product innovation and process innovation have significant positive effect on performance of entrepreneurs’ businesses in Kaduna state, Nigeria while market innovation has a significant negative effect on performance of entrepreneurs’ in Kaduna state, Nigeria. The study concludes that innovation enhanced entrepreneurship business performance in the study area. Hence, we recommend that entrepreneurs should invest on new technologies so that they can enhance their competitive edge over their rivals. SMEs should focus on developing new processes or improve the existing ones to enhance efficiency and growth outcomes.

SUSTAINABLE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN UNILEVER PLC. ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

2026-10-08T14:11:14+00:00

Sustainable Human Resources management practice is required for the success of organization for the long-term goals and sustainability, where productivity and performance are determine factors of overall success of an organization. Human resources is the most valuable asset of any organization, the success or failure of any organization to a large extent depends on how effective they were able to manage their human resources, their needs and working condition must be satisfied if an organization must achieve its aims and objectives. Sustainable human resource management practices deployed in this study are Common good, Green HR policies, Social responsible HRM, and Triple bottom line. The researcher used the primary data in the study. A correlation survey research design was employed. The population of the study comprised all the starters with high, middle and lower management in Adamawa State. A sample selected using stratified random sampling, with 101 employees as population. Pilot study was carried out in one of the organization to ascertain the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. The sample size of the study was 81 employees derived using the Taro Yamani formulae for the determination of sample size. A total number of 81 questionnaires were distributed and 63 returned. The researcher used simple percentage and regression analysis as statistical tool for the analysis. Findings revealed that the variables of sustainable human resource management practices used in this study, Common good, Green HR policies, Social responsible HRM, and Triple bottom line are significant correlated with employee performance. It shows that providing adequate practices for employees lead to increase in performance rate of an organization. The study concluded that adoption of sustainable human resource management practices enhances employee performance. There is need for proper coordination, control and implementation in order to achieve organization objective and at the same time reduce employee turnover which has caused great havoc in the organization.

ORGANISATIONAL INNOVATION: A CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICPRENEURSHIP GROWTH IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

2026-10-08T14:50:45+00:00

This study examined Organisational Innovation as a Catalyst to Sustainable Agricpreneurship Ventures (SAV) Growth in Niger State, focusing on the effects of innovative business practices (IBP), innovative workplace organisation (IWO), innovative knowledge management (IKM), and innovative external relations (IER) on the sustainability of agricpreneurship ventures. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from agribusiness owners and managers through a structured questionnaire and analysed using SmartPLS 4. The results revealed that innovative business practices (t = 0.558, p = 0.577) and innovative workplace organisation (t = 1.050, p = 0.294) exerted statistically insignificant but positive effects on sustainable agricpreneurship ventures, indicating partial acceptance of their influence. Conversely, innovative knowledge management (t = 4.754, p = 0.000) and innovative external relations (t = 4.662, p = 0.000) showed significant effects but were statistically rejected due to the directionality of the hypothesised relationships. These findings demonstrates that while business practices and workplace innovations within firms contribute modestly to sustainability, knowledge management and external collaboration are more influential drivers of long-term success. The study concludes that promoting knowledge-sharing systems and strategic partnerships is essential for enhancing innovation capacity and ensuring the sustainability of agricpreneurship ventures in Niger State.