ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT ANDEFFICIENCY PERFORMANCE OF SMES IN OGUN STATE METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The informal sector in Nigeria is frequently confronted with challenges related to poor managerial competencies and the difficulty of sustaining the growth of small-scale enterprises. Against this backdrop, this study examined the influence of entrepreneurship training needs assessment on the efficiency performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ogun State, Nigeria. The central objective was to determine whether training programs tailored to the specific needs of participants to address performance gaps within the informal sector. A quantitative research design was adopted, complemented by qualitative insights obtained through structured interviews with selected entrepreneurs in major cities of Ogun State. The study population comprised 270 registered SME owners/operators, from whom data were collected from 250 that responded to inquiry using a well-validated questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was established through Cronbach’s alpha test, which produced an overall value of 0.890, thereby confirming its internal consistency. Data analysis and hypothesis testing were conducted using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, with 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed a strong, positive relationship between ETNAs and SME performance in Ogun State (r = 0.7504, n = 250, p = 0.000). This finding suggests that the extent to which organisers of entrepreneurship training conduct comprehensive TNAs substantially determines the effectiveness of such programmes in enhancing enterprise efficient performance. The study concludes that entrepreneurship training tailored to identified needs considerably strengthens the competitiveness and efficiency of SMEs. It therefore recommends that training programs should be systematically designed around participants’ assessed needs to ensure sustainable enterprise growth and long-term success.