Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Abstract: This study examined the influence of entrepreneurial characteristics on the growth of small and medium enterprises in the textile industry in Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis methods were used with owners/managers and employees of selected textile industries in Nigeria as case study. While simple random sampling was employed in selecting respondents the instrument used was likert scales based on questionnaire ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Questionnaires were distributed to the respondents and one hundred and sixty seven were successfully retrieved and analyzed. SPSS was used in the analysis of the data. The results showed that need for achievement has a significant effect on the growth of SMEs. There is a statistically significant relationship between innovation and growth of SMEs. There is a statistically significant relationship between self-efficacy and growth of SMEs which indicates a correlation between entrepreneurial characteristics and the growth of textile industries in Nigeria. The study concluded that acquisition of entrepreneurial characteristics should be emphasized. The practice where firms copy one another is imbalance with innovation and self- efficacy necessary for firm growth. Firms must be possessed with improvements, receptive to new challenges and adopting wide range of new ideas.
Keywords: entrepreneurial characteristics, firm growth, Nigeria, innovation

This study evaluated branding as a tool for entrepreneurship success. The study is delimited to bakeries in Ikeji-
Arakeji Area in Ori-Ade Local Go vernment of Osun State, Nigeria. The study is guided by three research questions and
seeks to know the effects of packaging, customer’s taste and product’s price on the growth of bakeries, rate of
patronage, volume of sales and customer’s choice. Five companies producing bread and two hundred bread customers
are considered. A descriptive survey research design is used to determine the effects of branding on the success of
entrepreneur among companies producing bread products. The data collected is analyzed using simple frequency
counts, percentage mean and standard deviation. The results from the study revealed that unique packaging has
ability to increase customer’s patronage and that an increase in patronage results into an increase in sales which in
turns impacts business growth. The results also revealed that customers buy more of bread from which they derive
high satisfying taste. It is also shown in the results that quality of bread is not determined by price and that people
tend to buy more of the bread that are carrying lower prices irrespective of their quality. Going by the results
obtained, the study concluded that adequate and unique branding influence entrepreneurship success. The study
therefore recommends that firms should endeavor to improve their branding system as this will enable them to
remain relevant in market and stand the phase of competition.
Keywords: Packaging, entrepreneurship, taste, Nigeria

The study examined entrepreneurship education as a tool for sustainable development among the final year students of University of Ibadan who took entrepreneurship as general study course in their third year at the University. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the final year students of the University to ensure that the questionnaire is administered only to students who have offered entrepreneurship courses. Simple random sampling technique was used to select (10) students each from the seventeen faculties in the University giving a total of 170 respondents. The results showed that entrepreneurship education has significant impact on job creation, poverty reduction, improved standard of living and crime reduction among undergraduate students: these demonstrate that entrepreneurship education is a viable tool for sustainable development. The study recommends based on the results that there is need for stakeholders like government, entrepreneurial organizations, NGOs to invest their resources on entrepreneurship education and to provide grant funding to undergraduate students which would equip them with entrepreneurial skills to develop business ideas

The number of unemployed graduates has been on the increase. In response to this, Entrepreneurship is made a compulsory course in all tertiary institutions at the undergraduate level. The entrepreneurship courses offered is aimed at creating selfemployment so as to reduce the dependence on government employment. The study examined Entrepreneurship Development (Education) as succour for Self-employment among the students of public universities in the South west Nigeria that took entrepreneurship as a basic course. The aim of the course is to fill the gap between entrepreneurship education and capability to be self-employed by creating entrepreneurial ventures. Many business and innovative ideas were introduced to the students in the course of study but an evaluation of students' actions after class and graduation will determine the relevance and impact of the course. The descriptive research design of the survey type is adopted in the study. The population of the study comprises all the students of the universities in the southwest Nigeria. The study is delimited to all the public universities in the southwest Nigeria. This study involves a multi-stage sampling technique to select 360 students in the institutions. Simple random sampling technique is used to select four out of the six states in the southwest, Nigeria. The results showed that entrepreneurship development (education) greatly influenced selfemployment among the university students. Therefore, teaching of entrepreneurship with the exploration of both theory and practice; creating commercial awareness and building venture creation skills should be strengthened and sustained in the universities.

Technological knowledge is increasingly vital for enhancing students' understanding of complex concepts and fostering peer collaboration. Digital integration in vocational and technology education offers opportunities to enrich teaching, boost student engagement, and prepare learners for modern workforce demands. Despite its potential, research on digital competence in vocational education and training (VET) in Nigeria remains limited. This study explores the success factors and challenges of digital integration in Nigerian vocational and technology education. It examines strategies, resources, and barriers to identify factors influencing effective adoption and utilization of digital technologies. A meta-analysis highlights key success factors, including adequate training and professional development for educators and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. Challenges include inadequate infrastructure, unequal access to digital resources, and sustainability issues in adopting digital tools. The study emphasizes the need for a collaborative effort among stakeholders to provide adequate infrastructure and ensure widespread access to digital resources. These insights aim to enhance educational practices and inform policy frameworks for successful digital integration in Nigeria’s vocational and technical education sector.
Keywords: Technology, education, digital integration, innovation, collaboration.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which marketing orientation influences the formation of unique value propositions of food processing companies in Southwest, Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted in the study. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select two hundred and four (204) operation and marketing managers of food processing companies in selected states in Southwest, Nigeria. The study adopted the interview method of data gathering. The data collected for the study was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that the key components of marketing orientation that influence the formation of unique value propositions of food processing companies in Southwest, Nigeria are customer orientation, competitors’ orientation, innovation and market segmentation; there is a significant relationship between the key components of marketing orientation and the identification & understanding of customers’ needs & preferences of food processing companies in Southwest, Nigeria, also, marketing-oriented food processing companies in Southwest, Nigeria utilize customer feedback and market data to continuously enhance their value propositions at a high extent. Based on the findings, it was recommended that food processing companies in Southwest, Nigeria should always conduct thorough market research to gain a deep understanding of the local consumer preferences, cultural nuances, and emerging trends and implement robust customer engagement strategies, such as surveys, focus groups, and social media interactions to gather continuous feedback from consumers.
KEYWORDS: marketing orientation, unique value proposition, customers’ orientation, market research, competitors’ orientation

Reports from scholars highlight several challenges plaguing the Nigerian economy, including
rising crime rates, mortality rates, and political thuggery, largely attributed to youth
unemployment. This study aims to systematically review the factors and impacts of Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) mortality in Nigeria, focusing on identifying key causes such as
financial constraints, managerial deficiencies, market conditions, regulatory hurdles, and
technological limitations. It also explores the wide-ranging impacts of SMEs mortality on the
economy, society, finances, and the environment. Grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory and Entrepreneurship Theory, The study uses a systematic literature review (SLR) approach, following
a three-step methodology—preparation, execution, and reporting—validated by prior research.
While the study is limited by access to global databases, preventing a broader examination of
SMEs mortality, it provides valuable theoretical and practical insights into the obstacles faced by
Nigerian SMEs, highlighting key government policies and strategies for improvement. Based on
the findings, a total of 76 published manuscripts were examined, revealing 6 major factors of
SMEs mortality in Nigeria; financial constraints, managerial skills, market conditions, regulatory
environment, innovation and technological adoption as well as economic factors and 4 major
impacts of SMEs mortality in Nigeria; such as, wide-ranging economic, social, financial, as well
as environmental factor. The study suggested that enhancing the availability of financial resources
by means of certain governmental initiatives and financial establishments will effectively mitigate
the lack of money and SMEs’ owners should be encouraged to acquire the essential skills to
effectively traverse intricate business situations, hence improving their management talents.
Keywords: SMEs’ mortality, impacts, factors, systematic literature review, Nigeria.

Family business has attracted more attention in recent times, as a result of its immense contribution to entrepreneurship and national development. Several Nigerian businesses have grown from single ownership (sole proprietor) into fully fleshed family owned businesses with more personnel, better decision making, management style and resources to effectively carry out business activities. Most family businesses adopt innovation as a competitive strategy in the marketplace. Today's business environment is highly dynamic, complex and fiercely competitive, it is therefore of great importance for family businesses to be innovative, wiling to adapt to change, creative and ready to employ strategies that will position the business at a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The focus of this paper is to examine the concept of family business and innovation, role of innovation in building a successful family business, factors inhibiting the growth of family business and prospect of family business. This paper concludes by recommending ways to tackle problems faced by family businesses and how these businesses can be improved upon.

The role of disruptive innovation in promoting the performance of family-owned small and medium scale enterprises has not fully been explored in Africa especially Nigeria. Therefore, this paper is focused on examining the role of disruptive innovation in improving the performance of family-owned small and medium scale enterprises. The study administered 390 copies of questionnaires, while 310 were retrieved from family-owned SMEs in Ado Ekiti. Multiple regression and correlation were deployed to show the relationships between the variables. The findings revealed that disruptive innovation has a strong relationship with sales growth and a weak one with profitability. Therefore the study recommends that familyowned SMEs should deliberately ensure improve the technological features of their products and study market dynamics to ensure profit maximisation and strengthen their business growth, hereby boosting business performance.

The role of disruptive innovation in promoting the performance of family-owned small and
medium scale enterprises has not fully been explored in Africa especially Nigeria. Therefore,
this paper is focused on examining the role of disruptive innovation in improving the
performance of family-owned small and medium scale enterprises. The study administered
390 copies of questionnaires, while 310 were retrieved from family-owned SMEs in Ado
Ekiti. Multiple regression and correlation were deployed to show the relationships between
the variables. The findings revealed that disruptive innovation has a strong relationship with
sales growth and a weak one with profitability. Therefore the study recommends that family-owned SMEs should deliberately ensure improve the technological features of their products
and study market dynamics to ensure profit maximisation and strengthen their business
growth, hereby boosting business performance.

Corporate Social Responsibility over the years is keenly observed as germane to business long term survival. The impact of CSR reflect both in the business performance and societal impact. In Nigeria, it is observed that CSR is mostly practiced by large businesses when compared to small businesses. This study objectives includes accessing the knowledge of small businesses of CSR, know the attitude of small businesses towards CSR and contributing factors to the attitude of small businesses. The researchers used descriptive analysis methods to analyse responses from respondents. Result from the study revealed that majority of respondents were of the view that CSR was strictly for large firms, so small businesses has no business engaging in CSR activities. Most small business considered CSR as waste of scarce resources and irrelevant to business growth. The result also showed that lack of knowledge, less funds, lack of exposure towards CSR and government policy are responsible for poor attitude towards CSR activities. The study recommends that government, pressure groups and other stakeholders should regularly organise programmes through various channels on the need for small businesses to change their perception about CSR. Also association, and government agencies should sanitize small businesses on the importance of CSR to their business and society.

Family business has attracted more attention in recent times, as a result of its immense contribution to entrepreneurship and national development. Several Nigerian businesses have grown from single ownership (sole proprietor) into fully fleshed family owned businesses with more personnel, better decision making, management style and resources to effectively carry out business activities. Most family businesses adopt innovation as a competitive strategy in the marketplace. Today’s business environment is highly dynamic, complex and fiercely competitive, it is therefore of great importance for family businesses to be innovative, wiling to adapt to change, creative and ready to employ strategies that will position the business at a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The focus of this paper is to examine the concept of family business and innovation, role of innovation in building a successful family business, factors inhibiting the growth of family business and prospect of fami...

Innovation and existing products are valueless to the society unless are brought out of the factories. They are of value only when knowledge of the product is dispersed to those who can use them or whom will consume it. Strategy is a system or tactics used by the companies to entice customer to purchase their company's products. It describes the direction organisation within its chosen environment and guides the
allocation of resources. Promotion is the various efforts that a company renders to seek the sales growth and to create awareness and eventually, enhance repeats by customers. Promotional strategy is the marketing tools designed to persuade consumers to buy or use the company's products by
offering and incentive not provide by the regular package, brand, or even the original of the product.

The progress of a nation is a function of the level of the resourcefulness of the people which to a great extent, relates to the level of quality of the training and purposeful development of education in that nation. Such progress or
development could only occur when an individual in the society is gainfully employed and per capital income is enhanced. This could only be possible when government educational policies are geared towards a functional education that can lead to job creation and also self reliance. Entrepreneurship education is a means through which government could attain such development in the society. Therefore, this paper examines
entrepreneurship education as the way forward to job creation in Nigeria. The challenges of quality entrepreneurship education were also discussed. Finally, the paper advanced some suggestions on how to overcome the challenges so as
to reduce unemployment and enhances job creation in Nigeria. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Education, Job, way forward, Creation.

White-Collar Job simply means job available in an office rather than,
for example operating machines in a factory. In dealing with this topic, The  Possibilities for the Nigerian Graduate/Youths is beyond White Collar Jobs,  I hope to go down memory lane of the good old days compared with the  present situation in the country. More importantly I hope to dwell more on how you can be an entrepreneur. Before the colonial era, we were farmers. The Colonialist brought
education - administration - managing the resources at their proposal
This is the time people were interviewed with a lot of remunerations like
salary- at the end of the month - cars fringe benefits. Some became
teachers and people abandoned their former jobs liking farming for the white  collar jobs. People were contented with monthly payment whether the  Government made enough or not. They were well dressed, very popular and well  respected in the society.

The interest for this research topic was developed from a class assignment in 2 nd sememster of my M.Sc program, the course titled ETR 750 (Social Entrepreneurship). Our first day in the class, our lecturer Prof. Adedapo, asked us to think of any social problem which we wish to solve, I came up with the idea to solve just two problems which are related but not the same, " poverty and unemployment " with the use social entrepreneurship approach. This paper aims to shed light on how social entrepreneurship enables economic opportunities for the poor, thus eliminating social and economic problems in society. It also attempts to better understand the role of social entrepreneurship in enabling economic opportunities for the poor. To achieve the purpose, possible links through which social entrepreneurship enables economic opportunities are developed based on a survey of the literature. The researcher also came up with a social enterprise model which will solve poverty Nigeria.