Al-Hikmah University Journal

Motor spare part merchandizing and motor mechanic as a profession are common professions in Nigeria. However, there is a noticeable difference between income levels and profit margins of spare part merchandizes and motor mechanics. Thus, this study makes a comparative analysis of profit making in spare part merchandizing and motor mechanic as a profession. The objectives were to compare the income levels and profit margins of spare part merchandizes and motor mechanics, and identify the difference between factors that affect the profitability of spare part merchandizing and motor mechanic as a profession in Ilorin, Kwara State. The methodology adopted by the study was the survey research design. The population of the study comprised all spare part merchandizes and professional mechanics in Ilorin, Kwara State. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 100 each of spare part merchandizes and motor mechanics respectively because of the scattering spatial pattern of the motor mechanic workshops in Ilorin, Kwara State. Questionnaire and guided interviews were used to gather information from the respondents, while Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to test the hypotheses formulated.  The study found that there is a significant difference between income levels and profit margins of the two professionals, while there is no significant difference between the factors that affect the profitability of spare part merchandizes and professional mechanics in Ilorin, Kwara State. The study concludes that both motor spare part merchandizing and motor mechanic as a profession are profitable in Ilorin, Kwara State. However, spare part merchandizing is more profitable, while the profitability of the two professionals is affected by the same factors. Based on its findings the study recommends that federal and state government in Nigeria should incorporate entrepreneurship skill acquisition training in their poverty eradication programmes to encourage prospective motor mechanics learn the profession through formal education.