ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT BARRIERS IN A DEVELOPING NATION : A Case Study of the Nigerian Printing SMEs

Developing nations have been characterized with low standard of living, undeveloped industrial base, high rate of unemployment and low HDI (Human development Index- life expectancy, education and income). With these problems, foreign direct investment have been a great source of economic rescue; however, if these countries could develop their entrepreneurial capacity, they would do more for themselves. (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor –GEM 2011) On this note, this thesis investigated the barriers which affect entrepreneurial development in developing nation. Nigerian printing Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs) were used as case study. The main goals of thesis were to provide practical information on these barriers as well as to propose possible solutions to the problems. In order to achieve the above goals, qualitative research method was used. Interview was also used as research instrument. Twenty SMEs owners were interviewed. Findings shown that harsh government policy and bad leadership, poor educational system, poor infrastructures (electricity), financial incapacitation, near absent research and development (R&D), inadequate technical skill and aid misinformation, low entrepreneurial, administrative and bookkeeping skills, ineffective functional paper mill and high import tax duty were the industrial barriers facing Nigerian printing SMEs. The findings also revealed that individual´s interest, personality, training, skills and working experience are essential in the entrepreneurial evolvement in the Nigerian printing SMEs. The findings further revealed that the Nigerian government, Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), various printing/printers associations and individual printing SME owners are the key players in the entrepreneurial developmental activities for the Nigerian printing SMEs. Furthermore, it was suggested that the aforementioned problems could be solved by sincere leadership and governance in Nigeria through implementing positive policy made, provision of business enabling infrastructures, revitalization of the paper mill, creation of special government agencies for the printing SMEs, education reform, skills development and training, collaboration with foreign investors to produce printing materials locally as well as tax reduction on the importation of printing equipment. Therefore, this thesis contributes to the improvement of the entrepreneurial activities in the Nigerian printing SMEs. More importantly, it provides details of how the gathered knowledge could be applied in the real world