EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES ON THE GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (SMES): A STUDY OF SELECTED SMES IN THE NORTHERN SENATORAIL DISTRICT CROSS RIVER STATE

ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of entrepreneurial competencies on the growth of the selected SMEs in Northern Senatorial district of CRS. The specific objectives was to determine the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and the growth of selected SMEs in Northern Senatorial district, to evaluate the contributions of entrepreneurial approach to growth of selected SMEs in Northern Senatorial district and to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial development and growth of the selected SMEs in Northern Senatorial District. The research design that was adopted for this study is the survey design. The population of the study comprised of both male and female workers consisting of top management middle and lower level management employees of the three selected SMEs namely: Gomara Farm Limited, Tofamid Farms Limited and Ushie table Water Limited. This study adopted simple random sampling technique. This study employed the Taro Yamane Formula to determine the sample size. The primary data was obtained from the questionnaire administered. To investigate the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (correlation coefficient) was used. The study found that there is significant relationship between entrepreneurial skills and the growth of selected SMEs, also, the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between entrepreneurial motives and the growth of the selected SMEs. Based on the findings, the study recommended that governments should not only provide adequate funding but also initiating management training and development programmes for the entrepreneurs in order to enable them enhance and appreciate their inborn personalities and abilities and supports should be channeled towards competent entrepreneurs who poses and acquired the skills, characteristic and motives. This will enable the effective and efficient utilization of the funds given to them.