STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING ENTREPRENEURIAL ENGAGEMENT AMONG PURDAH WOMEN IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The implication of the continued exclusion of purdah women in entrepreneurial engagement have not been given the required attention, thus, to achieve full human and societal development, more attention should be given to women's participation in entrepreneurship. The study examined strategies for enhancing entrepreneurial engagement among purdah women in Kwara State, Nigeria. Two purposes were raised from which two research questions were formulated to guide the study. A mixed-method design (qualitative and quantitative) was adopted for the study. The research was carried out in Ilorin metropolis, consisting of three local government areas and it was chosen because of its centrality in the state. The entire purdah women in the Ilorin metropolis constitute the population for this study. Purposive sampling was then adopted to sample 75 purdah women from the study area. Data were collected using a researcher-designed structured questionnaire and interview. Percentage and mean were used to analyze the research questions The study found that business model strategy has the potential to enhance entrepreneurial engagement among purdah women in Kwara State to a moderate extent (mean = 2.74, SD =1.03), also mentorship programmes strategy enhances entrepreneurial engagement among purdah women in Kwara State to a moderate extent (mean = 2.68, SD =1.01). It was concluded that Purdah women in the society should be encouraged towards entrepreneurial engagement and given all required support to thrive on the journey. Emphasis should be made by relevant stakeholders to organize programmes that will include purdah women-based enterprises. It was recommended among others that Governments, private organizations, and NGOs should organize entrepreneurship mentorship programmes for female-based and purdah women enterprises