Entrepreneurial Activities in Rural Forest Communities in Nigeria: Case Study of Onigambari Forest Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has been identified as a vehicle for rural development and overall economic growth in Nigeria. This paper examines the nature of entrepreneurial ventures in rural forest communities as well as the roles of forest resources in these ventures and the challenges they face. The study was based on a survey of 120 respondents from three communities in the Onigambari Forest Area in Oyo State using multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics as well as the Chi – square was used to analyse the results. The results showed that the farming (agribusiness) form the major entrepreneurial venture in these communities and these ventures are faced with a vicious cycle of low income and productivity. The results also show that these entrepreneurial ventures are faced with several challenges affecting their productivity. This study recommends that the government should encourage financial institutions to increase their presence in rural areas, that members in forest communities should be adequately trained on how to make proper use of forest resources and the overall standard of living in rural areas should be improved so that entrepreneurship can have the desired effect and forest resources can be a productive asset for development in these communities.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, forest resources, rural areas

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-11-08

Publication date:June 30^th 2019