EVALUATING THE POTENTIALS HINDERANCE TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SAMARU ZARIA KADUNA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth,
particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This paper investigates the challenges and
contributions of women entrepreneurship in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state, Northern Nigeria.
The study evaluated the critical role of female entrepreneurs in driving economic growth, job
creation, and poverty alleviation in Samaru community. The main objectives of paper are to
evaluate the contributions of women entrepreneurs to economic activities in terms of job and
income creation, poverty reduction and access to credits, among others. The study adopted
descriptive survey research design and collected data randomly through structured
questionnaire. The population of the study area are all the key women entrepreneurs in
Samaru and the sample size of 85 were randomly selected and chi-square technique was used
as estimation technique. The findings reveal that, while women entrepreneurs at Samaru
significantly contribute to local economic activities, they encountered numerous challenges
that hinder their potentials. Chi-square tests indicated a strong association between access to
finance and business income, job and poverty reduction, underscoring the importance of
financial resources in enhancing economic outcomes. The paper recommends that,
institutional support especially access to funding, training and mentorship to empower
women entrepreneurs and foster sustainable economic development in the community.