The Journal of Arts, Humanities and Development Studies Research Vol.4, No.1, pp 76 – 105; December 2023
Intervention Schemes and The Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
1Ukaidi, Chris U.A., 2Ukaidi, Evelyn Ugonna, Ssekajugo Derick & 4Dingmoi Ubur Abraham Lithila
Faculty of Management Sciences University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria.
Email; ukaidichris2021@gmail.com; ORCID: https/orcid.org/0009-0008-7289-8020
2Department of Business Management, Management Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria
3College of Economics and Management, Kampala International University, Uganda
Email: derrick.ssekajugo@kiu.ac.ug
4Department of Economics, Kampala International University, Uganda
Email: Dingmuna2013@gmail.com; ORCID No: 0009-0002-5463-3500
The aim of this research is to examine the influence of the various intervention schemes on the performance of small, micro and medium scale enterprises in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria, five programmes initiated by the intervention schemes to improve performance were assessed to include: entrepreneurial skill training, grants, tax incentives, business incubation training and microcredit schemes and their influence on the performance of small and medium scale businesses in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for the study is the quantitative research design, using the descriptive and survey inferential approaches. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study, with five commensurate null hypotheses. The instrument for data collection was the researchers designed structured questionnaire with a modified four-point Likert scale response options. The population of the study comprised of 5274 registered small, micro and medium scale business enterprises in Akwa Ibom state. Using the Taro Yamane sampling size determination formular, a sample of 527 SMEs (10%) were selected for the study. The instrument administration was done by the researchers personally to the respondents, and the instruments were collected on the spot after filling by the respondents. Data analysis was done with the use of simple percentage and the simple regression analysis. The result shows that the five null hypotheses were all significant at .05 significance level and 1, 527 degrees of freedom. The study concluded that the various intervention schemes and the programs carried out significantly influenced the performance of the small, micro and medium scale business enterprises in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It was however recommended among others that both the private sectors, multinational, nongovernmental organizations and the government of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria should facilitate regular trainings on entrepreneurial skills for entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State, so as to promote a culture of innovativeness and solution-driven entrepreneurs in the state.
Keywords: Intervention schemes, performance of micro and small enterprises, environmental factors