FACTORS DETERMINING THE GROWTH OF YOUTH OWNED SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA UNIVERSITY, BAUCHI
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The study was necessary to determine the elements affecting SMEs’ growth at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
University, Bauchi in order to improve their chances of growth. The study was directed by four research
questions. The factors considered were market access, legal and regulatory environment, capital access, and
technological adoption. The primary source of information was a self-administered questionnaire. SMEs
operating within Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, Bauchi State, made up the target
population. The population of the study was 150 SMEs registered with Hostel Allocation Committee of the
Student Affairs Division of the University, and a sample size of 119 was obtained including 10% nonresponse or error in filling questionnaires. Simple random sampling was used to administer questionnaires
to youth owned SMEs. The study utilized Statistical Package for Social Science to perform multiple
regression (SPSS). Inferential statistical techniques were used to interpret and present the data. The
findings of the study revealed that, consumer access, legal and regulatory environment, capital access, and
technological adoption all have a major impact on technological adoption. Thus, financial and other
lending institutions should be aware of the costly and difficult lending conditions that youth-owned SMEs
face in the country. They can then discuss the crucial problem of lending rates, namely how to reduce the
cost of credit by lowering interest rates. The process of obtaining credit should also be easy and
straightforward. To reduce the cost of doing business for SMEs, government should review its taxation
scheme, which includes both the federal and state governments. Given their small scale financial strength,
youth-owned SMEs should be given consideration.