Use of Small and Medium Enterprises Resources to Mitigate Unemployment in Bauchi State of Nigeria

Abstract

Resources to SMEs are the important variables to transform the unemployed citizenry in Bauchi of Nigeria into enabling environment of employed people. Unfortunately, the abundance resources at hand in the state are facing huge challenges. Therefore, the study was set to investigate the "Use of SMEs Resources to mitigating unemployment challenges in Bauchi State of Nigeria." it aligned with the study objectives, the study was underpinned by Resources Base View (RBV) and contingency theory perspectives its demonstrates the facilitating variables impacts specifically these were Finance, ICT, Infrastructure ,Skill and experience. Across sectional survey was used across the three (3) Geo- political regions of the state which are: Bauchi south, central and north. The study targeted a sample size of 354 respondents using random sampling techniques, a structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents in which 208 business owners/ managers responded and 146 questionnaires were not returned back. A descriptive statistical tools SPSS guides and help the researcher to describe the data gathered also a correlation analysis was used to analyses the relationship between the key variables, the study established a premise in Use SMEs resources in relation to mitigating unemployment in Bauchi state of Nigeria. The results of the findings were presented in tables, charts and explained categorically in percentages. The findings of the study found that 77% are male and 23% were female across the state. Further, the study found out that SMEs is an effective way to employed more with a reasonable mean of 3.487 and .823 standard deviation. The use SMEs resources has impact SMEs to employed more with a mean of 3.734 also the resources profile finding indicated that infrastructures (Electricity) in particular can play a significant role to mitigate unemployment in Bauchi state. Conclusively, the study found most SMEs are in service than manufacturing this result matched with the above finding on infrastructure (electricity supply) and a strategic investment in ICT can make significant impact to SMEs in Bauchi state to grow and lead to more employment. Finance, experience and skills provide reasonable scale base on SMEs owner’s efforts in contrast to insufficient external support by the government and other agencies .The study recommends institutional framework to be formulate on the process, access and utilization of use SMEs resources to mitigate unemployment in Bauchi state of Nigeria. Finally, the study suggested a further investigation on the use SMEs resources monitoring and evaluation impact in relation to employment in the state and Nigeria at large.