Poverty Reduction and Women Entrepreneurship In Oke-Ogun Area Of Oyo State

Abstract

Despite increasing global advocacy for gender equality and economic inclusion, women in many Nigerian communities continue to face structural and socio-cultural barriers that limit their economic participation. This study tends to examine the contribution of women entrepreneurship to poverty reduction in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, primary data were collected from 200 women in Oke-Ogun area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The regression result for hypothesis one showed that women entrepreneurship activities had a positive but statistically insignificant effect on poverty reduction (â = 0.024, p > 0.05) and hypothesis two revealed no significant relationship between entrepreneurial opportunities and poverty reduction (r = -0.002, p > 0.05). Findings reveal that women entrepreneurship significantly improves living standards, enhances self-reliance, and enables women to meet basic needs. However, regression results indicate that while women entrepreneurship activities show a positive relationship with poverty reduction, the effect is statistically insignificant. Key challenges identified include limited access to credit, poor infrastructure, cultural constraints, high cost of raw materials, and insecurity. The study recommends strengthened institutional support, improved access to finance, infrastructural development, and targeted entrepreneurial training programs to enhance the poverty-reducing potential of women entrepreneurship