Assessment of the Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria

Women entrepreneurship contributes significantly to household income and economic development, yet women entrepreneurs in North East Nigeria face disproportionate challenges that restrict their business growth and formalisation. This study assessed the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Bauchi State, examining economic, social, cultural, and regulatory barriers. A survey of 200 women business owners in Bauchi metropolis, Dass, and Azare was conducted using structured questionnaires. Business characteristics, challenges experienced, and coping strategies were documented. Relative Importance Index and chi-square analysis were employed. Results showed that limited access to credit finance ranked as the most significant challenge (RII = 0.91), followed by cultural restrictions on business travel and meetings with male clients (RII = 0.84) and inadequate business management training (RII = 0.82). Social expectations around domestic responsibilities were cited by 77% of respondents as a major time constraint on business management. Religious and cultural norms limited market expansion for 68% of respondents. Women with secondary education or above faced significantly fewer management skill challenges than those with only primary education. Business survival rates were significantly higher in sectors with female-dominated customer bases. The study concludes that women entrepreneurs in Bauchi State face both structural financial exclusion and sociocultural constraints that require targeted policy responses, including women-specific microcredit schemes and community-engaged business training through the Bauchi State Economic Empowerment and Development Programme.

Keywords: women entrepreneurship, business challenges, Bauchi State, North East Nigeria, microfinance