LOAN ACCESS, SKILL ACQUISITION, BONDING AND THE MODERATING EFFECT OF SELF-CONFIDENCE ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS’ BUSINESS PERFORMANCE: A CASE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the moderating effect of self- confidence in business on the relationship between loan access, skill acquisition and bonding; and women entrepreneurs’ business performance. A quantitative research method (survey) was used to solicit responses from 161 women clients of three homogenous micro-finance institutions in Nigeria. The samples were selected through stratified proportionate random sampling. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression. The results indicated that loan access (loan access), skill acquisition (skill acquisition) and bonding (bonding) had significant positive influence on women entrepreneurs' business (sales) performance in Nigeria. Self- confidence moderated the relationship between loan access and skill acquisition (not bonding); and women entrepreneurs' sales performance

Keywords

• Business performance
• Loan access
• skill acquisition
• bonding
• self confidence

References

1. Book: Allen, Elam, Langowitz, Dean (2008), 2007 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor
2. Report on Women and Entrepreneurship. Babson College: The Center for Women's Leadership. Hair, Black, Babin, Anderson (2010), Multivariate Data Analysis: A global
3. Perspective (7th Ed.). New Jersey, USA: Pearson Education Inc. Shane (2003), A general theory of entrepreneurship: The individual-opportunity nexus. UK: Edward Elgar. Journal Article:
4. Ajzen (1991), “The Theory of Planned Behavior”, The Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes,Vol. 50, pp.179-211.
5. Akanji (2006), “Microfinance as a Strategy for Poverty Reduction”, Central Bank of Nigeria Economic and Financial Review, Vol.39, No.4, pp.110-150.
6. Antoncic (2006), “Impacts of Diversification and Corporate Entrepreneurship
7. Strategy Making on Growth and Profitability: A Normative Model”, Journal of Enterprising Culture , Vol.14, No.1, pp. 49-63. Kickul, Page, Gundry and Sampson (2007), “Women Entrepreneurs Preparing for
8. Growth: The Influence of Bonding and Skill Acquisition on Resource Acquisition, Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship,Vol.20, No.1, pp. 181. Kuzilwa (2005), The Role of Loan Access for Small Business Success: A Study of the National Entrepreneurship Development Fund in Tanzania. The Journal of

9. Entrepreneurship,Vol. 14, No.2, pp. 131-161. Lawal,Omonona, Ajani and Oni (2009), “Effects of Bonding on Loan Access
10. Among Cocoa Farming Households in Osun State, Nigeria”,Agricultural Journal , Vol. 4, No.4,pp. 184-191. Sharma (2003), “The Role of Pure and Quasi Moderators in Services: An
11. Empirical Investigation of Ongoing Customer Service-Provider Relationships. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services,Vol, 10, pp. 253-262. Tata and Prasad (2008), Bonding, Collaborative Exchange and Microenterprise
12. Performance: The Role of Gender. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business,Vol.5, No.3/4, pp. 373-385. Working Paper: Brana (2008), “Microloan Access in France: Does Gender Matter? 5th Annual
13. Conference-Nice. European Microfinance Network. Brata (2004), “Bonding and loan access in a Javanese village”. University of
14. Atma Jaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Research Institute. Carter and Shaw (2006), “Women's Business Ownership: Recent Research and Policy Developments”. UK: Small Business Service.
15. Gatewood, Brush,Carter,Greene and Hart (2004), “Women Entrepreneurs,Growth and Implications for the Classroom”, USA: Coleman Foundation Whitepaper
16. Series for the USA Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ibru (2009), “Growing Microfinance Through New Technologies. Federal
17. University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Ojo (2009), “Impact of Microfinance on Entrepreneurial Development: The Case of Nigeria. Faculty of Administration and Business”, University of Bucharest, Romania.
18. Olomola (2002),“Bonding, microfinance group performance and poverty implications in Nigeria”, Ibadan, Nigeria: Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research.
19. UNCDF/UNDP (2003), “Microfinance Program: Impact assessment (2003) based on case studies in Haiti, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria”. United Nations Capital
20. Development Fund in conjunction with United Nations Development Program. Internet Resource: Adepelumi (2007), Women entrepreneurship as a tool for economic development in Nigeria from African Center for Advocacy and Human Development: http://www.advocacygrp.wordpress.com, [Accessed 26.1.2009]
21. Edozien (2008). Nigeria: N.G.Os harps on poverty reduction through microloan accesss 1.2009] Vanguard: http://www.vanguard.allAfrica.com, Accessed
22. Lakwo (2007), Microfinance, rural livelihood, and women's empowerment in Uganda http://www.ascleiden.nl/pdf/rr85lakwo.pdf, [Accessed 3.8.2009] African Studies Center Research Report /2006:
23. Martin (1999), Socio-Economic Impact of Microenterprise Loan Access in the Informal Sector of Managua, Nicaragua. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/thesis/ Accessed 21.1.2009]
24. Peter (2001), Impact of loan access on women-operated microenterprises in
25. UASIN GISHU district, Eldoret, Kenya. In Alila and Pedersen (eds), 2001, Negotiating http://books.google.com.my/book? [Accessed 18.9.2009] social space: East African microenterprises.