ANALYZING OF THE INFORMATION NEEDS AND SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF SMALL-SCALE ENTREPRENEURS IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE

The study investigated the Analyze the Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in Ilorin Kwara State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design with the population of 940 as the study population, which was the total population of Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in Ilorin Kwara State. The sample size of the study was 280 respondents across Ilorin Kwara State representing the whole population which was determined by Yamane’s formula. Data was collected using a questionnaire The data for the study was collected and presented and analyzed using simple percentage and frequency with the aids of questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that, small-scale entrepreneurs have a strong consensus on the critical importance of various types of information for their business ventures, which are business opportunities, marketing, production, raw materials, and competitors are all considered crucial for success, It also revealed that, the most frequently sought information is related to improving production efficiency, followed closely by information on business opportunities and market growth., entrepreneurs majority use competitor information to improve products, pricing, and marketing strategies and lastly the most significant factors influence the selection of information sources are compatibility, technological competence, quality and relevance of the information are crucial for building trust and supporting decisions. However, recommendation was made based on the findings. Government agencies should develop and maintain centralized, user-friendly information hubs that provide accurate, up-to-date data on production techniques, market trends, raw material sources, and regulatory requirements, entrepreneurs should be encouraged and supported to engage in continuous learning and capacity-building programs, particularly in digital literacy and information evaluation skills, business associations and trade groups should organize regular workshops, seminars, and networking events that facilitate knowledge sharing on industry best practices, marketing strategies, and competitive intelligence, media organizations and ICT stakeholders should collaborate to produce targeted business content such as radio programs, podcasts, and mobile-friendly platforms that disseminate useful and trustworthy business information in local languages, ensuring wider reach among entrepreneurs, and development partners should invest in improving infrastructure and access to affordable digital tools.