Northern Nigeria’s first female professor of entrepreneurship advocates special support for women
By Rahila Abdullahi, Kaduna,
Prof. Helen Andow, the first female professor of entrepreneurship management from the northern parts of Nigeria, has advocated for special support for women to become entrepreneurs.
Andow made the advocacy in her presentation titled “Harnessed Entrepreneurial Latent Engenders Neoliberalism” at Kaduna State University’s (KASU) 9th professorial inaugural lecture on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Andow, the current Director of the KASU Entrepreneurship Research and Development Centre, stated that women were less likely than men to be latent entrepreneurs, less likely to try to start a business, and less likely to be successful.
The Don lamented that women, being great untapped entrepreneurial resources, especially in transition economies, have significantly lower rates of entrepreneurship than men at all levels of entrepreneurship.
She said that lower participation in the labor market by women could prevent them from acquiring the connections and skills necessary for successful entrepreneurship.
“Other social settings and engagements may need to compensate temporarily for women’s isolation from professional networks and resources in the labour market,” she said.
She, however, encouraged women to participate in social networks such as membership in community organizations like sports, arts, and charity organizations, among others.
Andow called on financial bodies and organizations to enhance access to finance for female entrepreneurs, noting that women have fewer personal financial resources on average and less access to financing through social networks.
She recommended neoliberalism for developing countries like Nigeria to enhance latent-to-active entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship has played an important role in facilitating economic development and needed structural change in several developing economies.
Neo-liberalization of the economy can be a key factor in recovering from weak labour markets in many countries. Therefore, lower taxes on business start-up loans can help to expand external financing.
“Deregulation and privatization of the banking sector can also advance entrepreneurship by promoting competition in the financial sector, among others, thereby increasing access to finance and reducing inefficiencies.” She said
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of KASU, Prof. Muhammad Tanko, said the inaugural lectures were academic matters and were designed to allow professors to showcase their research findings from the inception of the university to the current date.
Tanko, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Yohanna Tella, said KASU had always encouraged its staff in research, noting that it was beneficial to academics and a way towards addressing problems and gaps in society and the nation at large.
