Prospects and Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Research from countries around the world shows an expanding trend in women’s entrepreneurial activities. Women entrepreneurs are said to account for a large number of enterprises creating employment, fostering economic growth and social cohesion. In-spite of the significant role played, their position in many African economies leaves much to be desired. This study aims to provide a micro-level perspective of gender related challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the Nigerian socio-economic context and their future prospects. The study adopted a mixed method approach involving the use of self-administered questionnaires and interviews with women entrepreneurs engaged in diverse sectors in Lagos. The picture which emerges from the finding shows that Nigerian women entrepreneurs operate in an unfavorable business environment, characterized by various challenges ranging from infrastructural deficiencies, corruption, low access and high cost of finance and weak institutions. The finding also highlight that women entrepreneurs are not afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts, due in part to deep rooted discriminatory socio-cultural norm which perceive them as wives and mothers