IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING ON SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KOGI STATE

This study investigated the impact of entrepreneurial training on small business success in Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. The study aimed to assess how training in business management, customer relationship management, and networking influences business performance, customer retention, and market expansion. A descriptive research design was adopted, with a target population of small business owners who have undergone entrepreneurial training in the past five years. A sample size of 163 was selected using Taro Yemane sample size determination formula, with 152 valid responses obtained. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. Findings indicate that entrepreneurial training significantly improves business outcomes. Business management training had a strong positive correlation with overall business performance (r = 0.68, p = 0.001), customer relationship management training significantly enhanced customer acquisition and retention (r = 0.74, p = 0.000), and networking and partnership-building training greatly influenced market expansion (r = 0.79, p = 0.000). The study concludes that targeted entrepreneurial training is critical for enhancing the sustainability and growth of small businesses. It recommends that policymakers and training institutions design specialized programs to address the unique challenges faced by small business owners. Further research should explore the long-term impact of such training on business success metrics.