EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FUNCTIONAL AND MORIBUND SMALL AND MEDIUM INDUSTRIES (SMIS) IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM NIGER STATE

Abstract

Nigeria as a country is trying to diversify from mono economy (i.e. oil economy) to non-oil economy (i.e. agriculture and solid minerals), which may likely resuscitate moribund industries on one hand, and increase economic activities of Small and Medium scaled Industries in the other. Nigeria as a nation needs to create an enabling environment that will encourage local economic development among states so that poverty will be drastically ameliorated in Nigeria. The study is premised on quantitative approach where empirical analysis is derived through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study give database of functional and moribund SMIs in Niger State, and enable researchers to make useful recommendations for policy makers at the Federal, State and Local governments respectively. In conclusion, the researchers recommend that the scope of this study needs to be expanded to cover the remaining thirty-five (35) states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The findings of this study cannot be generalized to cover other States of Nigeria because of peculiarities of individual States in Nigeria.