Examining the Role of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Generation of Employment in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State

This project research examining the role of small and medium scale enterprises in the generation of employment in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. A survey method and structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 150 respondents through cluster sampling technique. Table method of data analysis was used to analyze the data collected in order to determine the effect of independent variables, socio-demographic dimensions on dependent variable, entrepreneurial intentions. The result of the study revealed that 05(75%) of the respondents are male, while 40 respondents which represent 25% are female respectively. This indicates that both sexes are represented during the course of the study, that 35(24.1%) respondents were civil servant, 60 respondents which represent 48.6% were students, while 50 respondents with the 34.4% are business oriented individuals and that 115 respondents which indicates 79.3% are married and 30 respondents out of 145 with 20.6% are yet to married. This shows that the married people constitute the highest population under study but this might not have connection with their educational background. The study also revealed 140 respondents which indicate 96.5% agreed to have knowledge on the SMEs programmes, while 5 respondents with 3.4% of the total sampling population said that they do not have idea, that 110(85%) agreed to the fact that government usually support SMEs with finance to improves their business while 35 respondents which has the 25% disagrees with the idea, shows that 130 respondents which represent 89.6% agreed that can strongly served as a means of employment opportunities among the youth, and 140(97.6%) agreed that SMEs helps in the growth of country’s economy.