Roles of Enterpreneurs

THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEUR IN SOCIO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK IN NIGERIA

BY

FRIDAY UDOH, MBA, MSc (Econ) FCE Chief Coordinator, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (South-South)

A PAPER DELIVERED AT THE 10TH ADVANCEMENT AND CONTINOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME ORGANIZED

BY

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERTRED ECONOMISTS OF NIGERIA

HELD ON

JULY 10, 2009 AT THE

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT, ABUJA

Abstract

The confluence of rising infrastructure needs and social demands combined with tight government budgets, growing public resistance to additional tax increase and lack of appropriate framework administering tax responsibilities, make it necessary for government and individuals paying attention to entrepreneurial development in providing the much needed infrastructure and improve the national infrastructural stock.

1 INTRODUCTION

Within our localities every one is ascribed as a manager, yet have you ever pondered about your own prospect for entrepreneurship? Examine what entrepreneur (Small and Medium Enterprise) is, Entrepreneurial Opportunities, causes of its failure and its impact on the country’s infrastructural stocks. As we are considering this paper, we are going to understand those important points as highlighted above.

Entrepreneurs are individuals who accept risks, mobilize resources, provide jobs, and introduce innovations, also creating economic activities. Though many scholars associated entrepreneur to founder of a business firm, many others viewed in a wider context to include all active owner-managers who buy – out the founders of a firm, also comprising another generations, where it involved family business or family members who took over an existing business. Please have in mind that the description in this context does not include managers of larger organizations, or those described as entrepreneur by their flair in innovation. 1

However, the present day Knowledge-economy, demands knowledge driven –enterprise to keep pace with the contemporary technological changes and increased international competition. According to Kharbanda (2001) small enterprise in India with their dynamism, flexibility and innovative drive are increasingly focusing on improved production methods, penetrative market strategy and modern scientific management capabilities in sustaining their operations.

1 More detail could be found at the BSc lecture note on Entrepreneurial course of College of Continuing Education, University of Port Harcourt, dated February 24, 2005 prepared by Stanley Ogwuna at Page 9 presented that there is a great deal of difference between Entrepreneur and Inventor, where he described inventor as individual who creates a thing for the first time, with entrepreneur falling in love with organization (new venture) and will do everything possible its survival and growth

2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The word “Entrepreneurial” came into being in 18th century by an authority called Richard Cantilon. Entrepreneur involved nurturing of idea, and realization of the ideal through practical application in business endeavour. However, Entrepreneur could fall within Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise, generally understood as Small and Medium Enterprise (SME).

Essien (2006: 18) defines entrepreneurship “as the total of self asserting attribute that enables a person to identify business opportunity together with the capacity to organize needed resources with which to profitability, taken advantage of such opportunities in the face of calculated risks and uncertainties”. That is self assertiveness that is born out of self confidence, self reliance and optimism, being a critical attributes of entrepreneurship. To him, the push and indeed restlessness that often accompany the identification of a profitable business opportunity are some of the indication of self asserting spirit.

Many scholars, including Onah (2004) identify several characters that Entrepreneur posses and these characters have been found to include drive, mental ability, human relations ability, communication ability, technical knowledge and innovative ability 2

While McClelland (1961) found within successful entrepreneur such attributes as: ➢ Desire for responsibility ➢ Preference moderate risk ➢ Confidence in their ability to succeed ➢ Desire for immediate feed back, through level of energy, future orientation, skill at organizing and, ➢ Value of achievement over money

2 See “ Introduction to Small and Medium- Scale Enterprise Management” in J.O.Onah; Ikechuku Nwosu; and Onyema Ocheoha (eds) Empowering Small and Medium Scale Enterprise in Nigeria (Enugu: ECCIMA/NANMARK Associate Ltd, 2004) by Julius Onah

Meredith, Nelson and Neck (1996) through their work identify several characters and traits that make up a successful entrepreneur 3

Small Business is defined through an established size of an organization. In most cases, it becomes arbitrarily, as many institutions and individuals alike adjudged their criteria to suit certain purposes. However, distinction between small (Micro, Small and medium Enterprise)4 and larger could be based on asset, workforce etc. Equally, there are classifications among small business themselves that define their characteristics which we are going to consider:

2.1 Employment Based Classification

On employment based classification, The International Financial Corporation (IFC) has it that Micro Enterprise workforce is usually below 10 staff members, whereas Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not ascribe any staff numbers, similarly to the National Association of Small-Scale Industries (NASSI). Considering ‘Small Enterprise’ IFC captured it as a firm of workforce ranging between 10-50, with CBN associated it with an organization that has less than 50 personnel within its employment, as well as the NASSI who characterise it with a firm that has less than 40 staff members.

For Medium Enterprise, IFC qualified such firms that fall within this category to have staff strength of 50-100 staff-members, with CBN capturing it as a firm with less than 100 workforce.

2.2 Asset Based (Excluding Real Estates) Classification

In terms of asset, International Financial Corporation (IFC) provides that Small Enterprise (SE) assets falls within USD 2.5 Million (=N=3,725,00000 ) while CBN Characterises SE to a firm with asset based of below =N= 1Milllion, NASSI, =N=40Nillion, Federal Ministry of Industry 50 =Million with the National Economic Reconstruction Fund putting SE asset base at =N=10 Million. For the Medium Enterprise CBN describes it as a firm with Capital base of less than =150 Million, and FMI =N=200Million.

3. For detail information refer to the publication “The Practice of Entrepreneurship) written by Geoffrey G. Meredith, Robert E. Nelson, and Philip A. Neck (Lagos: University of Lagos Press: 1996)

4 See page 2 of the paper
(original data source - < www.nigeriabusinessinfo,com/nigeria-sme 2002.htm>) delivered during the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria 9th Advance Continuous Education Programme, held in this very hall, National Centre for Women Development, Better Life Street, Central Area, Garki, on June 6, 2008 and delivered by Professor Willie Okowa

3 Entrepreneurial opportunities

Entrepreneurial opportunities abound everywhere and any given chance, yet accepting the challenge, including risk, is the key word. An entrepreneur is constantly searching for every opportunity, that is for market and environment at which he can operate successfully. Within this discussion, we shall get to know such mind-set or orientation that is most appropriate in exploring today’s opportunities, as well as communicating the reality and excitement of entrepreneurial opportunities, and we are going to feature a success side of an entrepreneur in Nigeria as captured by one of the national dailies.

Nigerians are naturally endowed with entrepreneurial spirits. On the survey carried out by Magali, Bob (2008) Nigerians were ranked among the highest of 67 percent in sub-Sahara Africa, on their readiness taking entrepreneurial responsibility. On this research such question as, whether they are thinking of starting a business was advanced and the result was published (Fig. 1)

Fig, 1

Source: Gallup

3.1 Do It Better Overcome Some Barrier

Business Opportunities is best utilized by those who produced products and rendering services that is desired by the consumers. If a business can make its products or services especially attractive, it will find its prospect brightened. Opportunities exist more for firms that add value to their products, equal emphasis on superior quality and unquestionable integrity. Customers prefer such organizations that are honest and offer quality products.

It is no news that in Nigeria most of the items produced in-country lack standard5 to compete with similar products produced by a reputable firm out side the country, this must not be construed with the fact that none of the items manufactured in Nigeria meet standard (International) for example, cables produced in Nigeria can compete with similar products produced elsewhere in the world, not Chinese counterfeit cables flooding the street of Nigeria.

With the advent of globalization coupled with advancement in science and technology, both commodity and service market become more turf for unprepared products and service providers. These make customers to be much more alert than ever with emphasis on quality. Despite this and the global economic down-turn, with added value products in the market, entrepreneurs still survive and function much better. One rout that leads to successful entrepreneurship therefore is superior performance.

The hidden word here is “quality services” and “added value”, this among other positive elements move entrepreneur above its competitors, as customer responses to evidence of integrity and ethical value of service provider.

Against this background, let us see what happens to your small company, with workshop situated in Suleja, a distance considered far away from Garki where White Man Int’l Construction Coy. have their plant.

Assuming that you met with the Managing Director of White man International Construction Company and he agrees to give your small firm a trial for the repair of his machines in Garki where his plant situates. Accordingly, your company repairs the plant perfectly and the equipment performs perfectly within the time frame for servicing. It becomes certain that where you perform this fit for two to three times, your company have gained the confidence of the Chief Executive of the company and he would definitely signed a permanent contract with your small firm.

5 See BusinessDay Newspaper (P.p 20), dated Monday 15, December, 2009, Volume 7 No. 506 as reported by Austin Imholele “Nigeria Product Need to Meet Global Market Quality” amidst the deregulation of trade through the World Trade Organization (WTO) www.businessdayonline.com

3.2 Producing Goods and Services Efficiently

Consideration of the contributions of Small business must include a concern with an underline question of small business efficiency. This must have been within the mind-set of Aderonke Adediji, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Lofty Vogue Expression, one of the country’s leading fashion designers organization 6. Adediji Graduated with a Degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

She started the business in 1993 before deciding to temporary closed down for her University Education. Today, Aderonke Adediji who started with one of her mum’s sewing machines could comfortably affect the life of 19 Nigerians with multiplying effect on their family members, and who can boast of Ten Industrial sewing machines among others presently.

Today, the Company Customers cut across the Country while having orders also from outside Nigeria. This is Determination and establishing confidence on the mind of her customers (Pic.1)

Pic. 1

Aderonke Adediji

6 “Aderonke Adediji: Growing Business from the scratch”, BusinessDay Newspaper of Monday 15, December 2008 provide the beginning and excelling documentary (P.p 42) of ‘Lofti Vogue Expression, and was featured by Oluyinka Alawode.

Efficiency of a ship does not determined its safe navigation nor safe berthing, but the quality of the sailors - Friday Udoh

4 Causes of Entrepreneur Failure

“Poor Infrastructure delays’ market-makers’ take-off” if you have found a copy of BusinessDay Newspaper, Vol. 7 Nr. 649 of Monday, July 06, 2009 you must have noticed this captioned visibly appeared in the front page. Though being too specific, on electricity, but there are mirage of others problem never mentioned by this group. Again appearing as article on the same (front page) edition “Economy groan under booming smuggling” Even at normal-legally acceptable importation protocol the question is, do we have trade defence mechanism to protect our fragile manufacturing industries?. Even as Alan Winters, Director of the World Bank Development Research Group, speaks “The momentum of liberalization was maintained by courageously managing industry pressure so that exceptional situations of import competition were taken care of- and remained exceptional” therefore creating import defence at protecting local industries when the pressure of foreign products looks good at bringing down the entire manufacturing system should not be viewed as violating WTO General Agreement on Trade and Service (GATS).

Being specific on the cause of business failure could be confusing since it takes many forms. Such factors involved in a firm failure form a complex web, and a great deal of subjective judgement is necessary in trying to pinpoint the most basic reasons for a firm failure.

Fall in sales can have serious economic consequences on Entrepreneur; again wrongful fixing of prices on services and products can affect healthy position of a company.

Fundamental factors that can affect sustainability of small company operations are illustrated in Table 1. Through Dun and Bradstreet work, finance has been found to be the most outstanding factor causing failure in businesses. The largest segment of this financial cause according to Dun and Bradstreet is attributed to “heavy operating expenses” failure controlling the operating cost of establishment shows the weakness. Still on finances, high interest rate is included to have contributed to many business failure.

Longenecker, Moore and Petty (1997) while presenting the report on the study of the British business failure, mentioned that Business owners overwhelmingly identify problems of operational management as the major reasons for their business failure.
Table 1
|Causes |Percentage of failure |
| |47.3 |
|Finance | |
|Economic factor |37.1 |
|Disaster |6.3 |
|Neglect |3.9 |
|Fraud |3.8 |
|Strategy |1.0 |
|Experience |0.6 |

Source: Business failure record (New York; Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. 1993, pg 19)

Undercapitalization, poor management of debt, inaccurate costing and estimating, poor management of accounting and poor supervision of staff, etc., are being mentioned to have contributed to business failure. Summing all this together we can see that failure in business is largely attributed to management deficiencies.

Egai (2008) also identified several other factors that are responsible for business failure, among these are: 1. Institutional weakness 2. Capacity shortages 3. Limited Access to Markets 4. Excess Red-taism

The first factor deserved further discussion in view of its importance to the survival of entrepreneur. This deficiency presents serious threat to the survival of any organization, it weakens the very foundation of any development. Under such situation, Institutions responsible for policy formulation and implementation often fail of their responsibility; again, they lack appropriate mechanism developing a coordinated approach at pursuing a given goal. This hinders the ability of Entrepreneurs accessing funds to capitalize their operation, securing access to lower consulting companies for professional advice, and in developing business plans, visibility studies etc.

Under such environment, Investment hardly strives, or existing one neither sustained nor plays its role. Portraying this fact is on the frequent closures and relocating of firms. Specific cases are of the closure and relocation of Michelin and Dunlop from Nigeria,
These companies, during their existing in the country contributed in many ways to the economic growth of the country by paying tax, again its operation or existence had affected the life of Nigerians, through direct and indirect employment. As we are going on we shall get what drove many industries away while Entrepreneur is not exempted, However we would like to fall back on research carried out by “gallup”, there, the researchers picked certain important obstacles to entrepreneurship in the country. According to them almost three-quarters of Nigerians (73%) response that it is not easy to obtain a loan. While (59%) response that the government does not make the filing process easy enough for anyone who wants to start a business. Additionally, Nigerians are mixed on the constancy of the business regulatory environment. Forty-four percent of respondents say an entrepreneur can feel very confident that tax laws and other rules of the game will not change all the time, but 33 % think they will change (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

Source: Gallup

At an occasion, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Bashire Borodo was forced to speak about Nigeria Business environment. To him, while the right condition existed in 1982 there were 15 functionary sweet and confectionary factories along club road in Kano, employing thousands of workers, thus generating significant income for the workers, their families, and through multiplier effects, for other Nigerians.

He went further, by saying that two of such factories are in operation now, operating at less than 10% of their installed capacity. The rest, 13 or 87% have not only closed down, but have also stripped and machineries shipped for sale to other African countries, a very sad but avoidable situation, indeed. The same condition exists in almost all parts of the country today. What happened here is very clear: government did not play its role as it should or more specifically played its role in a more negative manner, thereby making it impossible for Small business, Medium and large business to play its own role and instead even withdrew the role they earlier played.

Why such happening? Why are we de-developing while other smaller and, infact, even poorer nations are truly developing?
It is not mistakenly to say, that at forums, conferences and seminars, round table discussion similar to this, that have taken place in the country at various time, recommendations and suggestions had been made. Really, a stage has been reached in this country today whereby, even annual budgets with all the attendance ceremonies of proposals and defence by the various government departments, agencies, and breathtaking speeches by the political leadership at all levels, are almost entirely discarded.

At this juncture, we should count the present government to have been a reform government, therefore, I would no longer hold back the recommendations, be as it may, if it fails to hold on to the recommendation, again for posterity, equally exchange of idea I would like to formulate series of questions for the discussants to ponder on, and if possible, attempt to suggest some answers for them.

1. What really goes wrong with government economic policies? Consistent? Clear? Objective? Coherent? Focused? Deeply thought about? Inconsistent? Incoherent? Unfair? Directionless? Selfish? Hollow? Short-sighted? It is incontestable fact that government policies have profound influence on the nature and direction of investment decisions on the part of business. On the other hand, inconsistent, ambiguous, incoherent and carelessly thought. Within such constrain there must be a negative consequent on investment decisions. 2. Why disconnection within one sector and another and between all the sectors of the economy? The main issue here is inter-sectoral support, that is, the extent to which the various sectors of the economy are supporting each other thereby providing vital linkages within the national economy. For instance how frequent has the industrial sector sources raw materials from within the domestic economy, and to what extent is the multinationals willing to support Entrepreneur by patronizing their products. On the whole, there exists no communication among various sectors of the economy, similarly with the policy formulation structure, which never takes into consideration the functions of other economic make-up. 3. What can we say about Entrepreneurship? What kind of incentive is available for local Entrepreneur? Are they a media incentive? 4. What kinds of tax system are we operating and how are they fairing on domestic industries. What can we say From Uyo to Sokoto, Lagos to Maiduguri on motorists in the hands of criminals who besiege the street and licensed by local authority as revenue agents? Certainly, fiscal policies can have serious effect on economy; again can exert serious impact on the production cost, thus affecting investment decision positively or negatively. 5. What can we say about key infrastructure, like roads, air, Power, rail, to which its absence or inadequacy pose great danger on Entrepreneurial growth. Perhaps it would be appropriate announcing that within June, 2009 our great country with the population of little above 140 Million generated just 1,383 MW of Electricity7, comparing to Iran with population of 70 Million generating 45,000MW and South Africa, with 40Million people generating 36,000MW. On roads, please speak for yourself (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3

Picture showing the deplorable state of Nigerian Roads (Calabar/ Itu Road) (15.05.08)

7See BusinessDay Newspaper volume 7 Nr. 636, June 17, 2009 Page 1&4 “Poor Power Generation Stalling FG’s 6000MW December Target” By Bello, Olusola

6. What happens to Human Capital Development in the form of Education, health facilities, shelter and food supply.
7. What happens to Cocoa, Groundnut, Palm Oil, arable land? creeks, rivers, estuary and sea resources?
8. Has our Export market swallowed?
9. What do we have to say about the state of inflation?

The answer should adequately inform us who among the actors are playing their roles and who are not playing the role expected of them and necessary actions that need to be taken in addressing the situation.

In my own thinking, perhaps yours and of average person within the locality, the tight might present this way:

1. There is absence of commitment, and sincerity among the leadership of this country. Committees, Conferences and Workshops recommendations are frequently sent to the thrash bin, with most, including policies are mostly oiled with individual interest over the nation, Competency sacrificed in the alter of political consideration.
2. Collusion. The entire security apparatus of the nation is Infiltrated by questionable characters who conniving with smugglers to flood Nigeria market with foreign goods, again such ones work with those whose conscience has been deadened and who collude with foreign firm to reduce quality of products they import into the country, this is not selective of the type of product, from highest till the least of product found in Nigerian market today. Again, tolls collection among security agents, operative has been legalized, giving criminals a field day to operate.
3. Nigerian consumer: the average Nigeria consumer, especially the elite are very unpatriotic. The preference for foreign goods, textiles, shoes, almost everything not made in Nigeria even upto chewing stick. It is believed that with their support and patronage to the local producer, such firm could have the strength to survive any economic down-turn
4. The fourth point is wild spending among Nigerians: When observed, while travelling, we can see a car worth as much as =N=10 Million, driven on deplorable roads, in a country that is bereaved of productive sector

5 Infrastructure

There is no generally agreed usage of the term infrastructure, but the concept, in its broadest sense, comprises the physical facilities, institutions and organizational structures, or the social and economic foundations, for the operation of a society. Within this broad concept, social infrastructure (e.g. health and education) can be distinguished from economic infrastructure. The latter directly supports production activities of enterprises at various points of the value chain, and is thus directly relevant to the competitiveness of firms and to economic development, again rating it among homogeneous group in the sense that it underpins the functioning of other economic activities, and is hence directly relevant to the competitiveness of firms and to economic development. Infrastructure consists of a group of industries, including electricity, gas, telecommunications, water and sewage, airports, roads, railways and

Services rendered within a given areas in a society could be regarded as well be regarded as infrastructure, since it creates both economic and social values in an economy.

Infrastructure stock per capita appears in every nation, it improves production capacity of nations, creating positive impact on the overall economy performance. Infrastructure comprise of economic and social capitals. Akpan and Ekong (2006: 15) presents social and economic infrastructures to includes but not limiting to education, health, water supply, the latter, transportation, communication and power8. While Hirschman(1958:83) constitutes infrastructure activities to involve ‘all public services’ from law and order through education and public health to transportation, communication, power generation and supply as well as agriculture overhead capital, irrigation and drainage system. However Cameron (2004) present infrastructure to comprise tangible and intangible, according to him, tangible constitutes, transportation, education, health etc., while intangible includes, tax, and legal system, planning and regulatory system etc. and their existence shape the function of the market, of which some work properly, and some not. Nevertheless, it must be understood that, where to place infrastructure in an economy depends on the level of economy development, fiscal capacity, and the system of governance. Therefore, what is ‘economic’ or ‘tangible’ in Nigeria may be social or intangible in Germany or Russia. Again, the level of infrastructure consumption varies. In essence, most infrastructures are subject to congestion, suggesting that it can be impure or imperfect public goods. Tangible infrastructures are more susceptible to congestion than intangible.

8 see BusinessDay of June 25, 2009. Vol.7 Nr. 636, as reported by Olusola on the captioned”Poor Poor generation Stalling FG’s 6000MW December Target”

Akpan and Ekong (2006:15) characterise pure public goods, by economies of scale in production as, non excludible, consumption, positive externalities, as well as negative externalities to consumers and non users alike. Benjamin (2003:4) categorized transportation infrastructure as a non perfect public goods, though inheriting attributes of public goods. He stated that perfect public goods exhibits non rival’s consumption, and captured ‘River Dyke’ protecting all property owners. To where a property owner does not have a dyke it means that all will be flooded. Likewise, the dyke is a public good and if it is privately funded, property owners can free ride on the construction cost. Most transportation infrastructure does not exhibit complete non rival consumption, thus limiting marginal consumption to minimal or extremely small. Individual consumption does limits future consumption through continuous wears and tears capable of prohibiting or limiting future consumption as the accumulation of usage often necessitates future repairs.

Based on the foregoing it is undisputable fact that Entrepreneurial activities in a country creates infrastructure both economic and socially which is not limiting to;

a. Operational structure, which comprises of offices, plants, and access way to the plant
b. Built and sustaining social infrastructures through taxations
c. Participating in Building and sustaining physical Infrastructures, such as roads, airport, rail lines etc
d. Building a bridge that integrates the national economy along the economic-political-legal, and domestic-regional- global axes.

However, at some point in this paper, we feel that it might not look necessary for recommendation, yet for reason given earlier we give the present administration the benefit of doubt, with the spirit of humility we prostrate offering this timely gesture, before this point, with conclusion that we should unite, despite our differences fighting the monster of negative reasoning for us as a nation to gain respect and maximize our endowed resource.

Recommendations

1.Government should host quarterly small and medium Enterprises (SME) round Table meeting with participant fully sponsored, and drawn from Business Community, Trade Union, Non-Governmental Organization, Professional Bodies and government representatives drawn from Ministry of Finance, Science and Technology, National Planning Commission, Nigerian University Commission(NUC), Ministry of Energy and must be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Industry or his Deputy or Minister for State for Commerce. The resolutions must have to be published in the newspapers and website.

2. Federal government must consider as a matter of urgency formulating Policy on ”Trade Defence Mechanism” to temporary check flooding of the Nigerian market with Foreign products, thus aiming at protecting manufacturing sector from collapse. Government must strengthen the policy development and implementing mechanism, especially as Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) had failed in checkmating counterfeit products in our Market, as equally observed recently, the continuous eroding of NAFDAC in Nigeria counterfeit drugs-war. More worrisome is the compromising Nigerians security apparatus, which urgently needs attention.

3. The Federal government must come out with policies that shares with the aspirations of other sectoral interest, with links between Federal government policies, states, and the local government action plans on SME, establish and adopt a more long term approach as well as reinforcing its capacity to take decisions.

4. Federal Government must establish Small & Medium Enterprise
Information Administration (SMEIA) to gather for SME information –researches, development and progresses of the SME in the country, and develop frame work for the University-Entrepreneur/ Industry Collaboration.

5. Government must allocate funds to subsidise cost incurred by SME in securing professional services, since the available resources within their disposal hardly meet this kind of costs, and without this services it makes it to be susceptible for failure, again seminars and conferences fees must be subsidise.

6. Adequate Infrastructure should be made available for SME to contribute its quota to the national economic development.

References

Ogwuna, S. (2005) BSc Lecture note on Entrepreneurship; the College of Continuing Education, UNIPORT

Onah, J. (2004) Introduction to small & Medium-Scale Enterprise Management in J.O Onah; Ikechukwu Nwosu; and Oyema Ocheoha (eds) Empowering Small and Medium Scale

McClellan and (1961) The Achieving Society (Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand)

Meredith, G., Nelson, R., and Neck, P (1996) The Practice of Entrepreneurship (Lagos: University Press)

Okowa, P. (2008) Paper entitled “Secret of Successful SME Entrepreneurs: Simple, Specific, Proven Methods to Ensure Entrepreneurial Success” being a paper delivered during the 9th Advancement and Continuous Educational Programme of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN), in Abuja.

Akpan, G., and Ekong, C. (2006) Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development, Published by Minders Int’l Publishers, Uyo

Longencker, J.Moore, C., and Petty, J., (1997) Small Business Management- an Entrepreneurial Emphasis (10th Edition), Published by Garth Wester College Publishing and International Thompson Publishing Company.

Khabanda, P, (2001) Facilitating Innovation in India SMEs- the role of clusters.

-----------------------
Looking Ahead

The Role of Entrepreneur in Socio- Infrastructure Development Network in Nigeria

1. What Entrepreneurship is all about?
2. Entrepreneurial opportunities
3. Causes of its failure
4. Its contribution to national infrastructural stock

By: Friday Udoh

References: Ogwuna, S. (2005) BSc Lecture note on Entrepreneurship; the College of Continuing Education, UNIPORT Onah, J. (2004) Introduction to small & Medium-Scale Enterprise Management in J.O Onah; McClellan and (1961) The Achieving Society (Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand) Meredith, G., Nelson, R., and Neck, P (1996) The Practice of Entrepreneurship Akpan, G., and Ekong, C. (2006) Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development, Published by Minders Int’l Publishers, Uyo Longencker, J.Moore, C., and Petty, J., (1997) Small Business Khabanda, P, (2001) Facilitating Innovation in India SMEs- the role of clusters.