COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROFIT MAKING IN SPARE PART MERCHANDIZING AND MOTOR MECHANIC AS A PROFESSION IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE

Abstract

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.