SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS SHAPING BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT AMONG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the socio-economic factors shaping business establishment
among women entrepreneurs in selected communities in Abia State, Nigeria. Guided by three
objectives, the study assessed the effects of access to finance, education, and social support on
entrepreneurial success. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected
from 349 women entrepreneurs across selected local government areas of Abia State using a
structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while Multivariate
Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of
significance. The findings revealed that access to finance, education, and social support each had a
statistically significant influence on the success of women entrepreneurs. Women with better
financial access, higher educational attainment, and stronger family and community support
demonstrated improved business establishment and sustainability outcomes. The study concluded
that socio-economic factors play a critical role in shaping women’s entrepreneurial success in Abia
State. It was recommended that policymakers and financial institutions implement flexible
financing options, expand skill development initiatives, and strengthen community-based support
systems to enhance women’s entrepreneurship. This study contributes to existing research on
women entrepreneurship in Nigeria by providing empirical evidence from subnational
communities, highlighting context-specific drivers of women-led business success.