Entrepreneurship is the vehicle that drives creatiion and increase in employment opportunities and it fuels economic growth. It’s an important source of job creation and opening career opportunities for both women and men. However, women are less likely to have successful enterprises or businesses than men.
In women Entrepreneurship, it plays a very important role in the economic development of Nigeria.
They are Involved in business activities at all levels, making important contributions to
economic growth. This days, women are increasingly active in part of economy that were previously considered male domain, for example, technology related disciplines. The development of women entrepreneurship is very low especially in the rural areas and it’s worrisome amongst women. In the recent time, women have become aware of their existence , their rights and their work situation.
Female entreprenuers face so many challenges and struggle to cross hurdles but i want to lay emphasis more on male dominated society .
The male – female competition is another factor in business and has being a big hurdles to women entrepreneurs in business . There must be gender equality in business and management process .
Despite the fact that women entrepreneurs are good in keeping their service prompt and delivery in time, due to lack of organizational skills compared to male
entrepreneurs , women have to face constraints from competition. The confidence to travel across day and night and even different regions and states are less found in
women compared male entrepreneurs. This shows the low level freedom of expression and freedom of mobility of the women entrepreneurs.
Lack of infrastructure and widespread corruption
These are also the other problems for the rural women entrepreneurs. They have to depend on offices , staffs and intermediaries to get things done.
At this juncture, Women entrepreneurship in Nigeria: is been assessed both their present state of involvement in comparison to the male entrepreneurs, their challenges, contributions and performance in the formal and informal business sector of the economy. According to the World Bank indicators, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria , the National Bureau of Statistics and the Federal Office of Statistics. They all reported that the total labour force, female women is 44:21 percent and those that participate more in the micro business (informal sector) constituting 42:.1% of the business ownership It was
also reported that women performance was higher in the trade , education and service sector .
The International Women’s Day , mapped out by United Nations and it’s celebrated every March 8, and this year 2023 theme is DigiTALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality with the hashtag embrace equity. This brings about the gender-roles, the socio-cultural context within the macro-environment which is the frame and the social responsibilities of women conducted in addition to their entrepreneurial activities In patriarchal societies ,for example , in some part of Nigeria , where women have taken over responsibility in their families., the socio-cultural contexts of that macro-environment thereby is a huge burden to women with household responsibilities in comparisons to their male counterparts. In such instances, because of their resilient prowess, the women’s responsibilities influence the growth of their businesses’ activities.
How have they fared in male dominated business / industries ?
Male-dominated industries are vulnerable to reinforcing stereotypes and creating unfavourable environments for their female counterparts, including high stress and anxiety levels, lack of mentoring, pervasive stereotypes, and sexual harassment.
Women entreprenuers state in male dominated fields still remains a huge success but highly competitive for them to penetrate deeper. Nevertheless I salute all women thriving in that areas like Technology industries .
These days more Entreprenuers are online , marketing their goods and services. Social media policies should be a bit flexible for female entreprenuers .
Again gender related factors influenced the positivity and rapīd growth opportunities within women owned businesses. General factors like economic prosperity , policy implemented by government,, it’s gain or loss i infrastructural facilities ,all could either enhance the growth of a women owned business positively or otherwise.
Permit me to say here that bad governance , ,inadequate or non-existent infrastructure.
On the basis of above it is observed that women enterprises is facing a lot of problems in Nigeria and facing social, financial, personal, marketing, technological, educational, competition
managerial and whole lot of
challenges. The country economic policy environment must be favorable for Organizations to achieve efficiencies in today’s global market. .
Female entrepreneurs provide a magical touch to an organization, whether in public or private or joint sector, in achieving speed, flexibility, innovativeness, and a strong sense of self determination. More than increasing national income by creating new jobs because entrepreneurship acts as a positive force in economic growth by serving as the bridge between innovation and market place.
I strongly believe workplace gender equality will be achieved when people are able to access and enjoy equal rewards, resources and opportunities regardless of gender. It will require, workplaces to provide equal pay for work of equal or comparable value. Removal of barriers to the full and equal participation of women in the workforce is strongly welcomed fully and not lip service promise.
There should be continuous attempt to inspire , encourage, motivate and co operate with women.entrepreneurs.
SMEDAN should be provided with more loans from the government for women entreprenuers.
The government should also introduce entrepreneurial development programme for women.
– Finance should be made available for them at a reduced rate of interest .
– Better educational facilities and schemes should be extended to women folk from the
government.
-The government should recommend good practice in supporting women in entreprenuership . More awareness campaign of female entreprenuers should be created, trained and thus empower them.
With this year’s theme for International Women’s Day , DigitALL: innovations and Technology for Gender Equality, that should serve as a Clarion call for every sector especially the Entreprenuership sector to end gender inequality . We should all stand up to unfair treatment and discrimination against women in the workplace . I know it’s can be a difficult task but it can be achieved. This is especially true in male-dominated work environments, where women may feel that they need to put up with mistreatment to keep their jobs. However, women need to speak out against discrimination and harassment both for themselves and for other women who may be facing similar challenges in their different walks of life . They should use their voice to make a difference.
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