ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR AND THE SURVIVAL OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISE IN KWARA STATE

Entrepreneurship research is dynamic, and there is growing attention to entrepreneurship characteristics and values and how this contributes to the economy and economic growth and competitiveness. Entrepreneurship can be regarded as an “employment opportunity”, helping people to get self-employed. Entrepreneurship has become a word of the day. Small and medium scale enterprises all over the world are more prone to failure due to the specific traits that has been possessed by the businesses, their owners and managers. This study was anchored on psychological/trait theory that entrepreneurs possess a need for achievement that drives their activity. The control theory that peoples with a strong internal locus of control believe their actions can influence the world and research supports most entrepreneurs possesses the trait. This study, descriptive research design will be used. This study used descriptive design. Secondary data were utilized for the study through questionnaires with a sample size of three hundred and fourteen (114). The quantitative data generated were presented and analyzed using table of frequency distribution, simple percentage using a Statistical Social Science Package (Version 2.0). The thesis findings that small and medium scale enterprises have been found to contribute immensely to the development of nation’s economy. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to establish the effect of entrepreneurial behavior and the survival of small and medium scale enterprise in Kwara State. The study was guided by three specific objectives; to determine. This study conclude that self-confidence has significant positive effect on market share. Findings of the paper implies that government universities, higher learning institutions and financial service providers should incorporate additional simplified short course training programmes that will include business knowledge skills (book keeping, marketing, entrepreneurship and business management) in their programmes. This study recommends that entrepreneurial behavior should be enhanced as a means of nurturing SMEs performance and long- term survival. Because most SMEs are totally dependent on the entrepreneur at first, success is linked on his/her attributes and thinking styles. Moreover, in order for entrepreneurs to develop characteristics such as innovation, self-reliance and risk taking, they must engage in reading books in a variety of fields; joining professional groups; attending professional meetings and seminars and devote time to pursue natural curiosities.