The global view on nations being able to attain economic development and stability is establishing more Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to sustain the country's economy. Unemployment has scourged most nations' economies and it is a global worry as the world's population keeps increasing. To this effect, most world economies are preaching the self-employment gospel, thus encouraging people to get self-employed and start up their cottage industry. To achieve the self-employment goal in Nigeria, governments at all levels, federal, state and local Governments, have embarked on numerous programmes aimed at assisting young school leavers to acquire necessary resources to make entrepreneurs. Despite all these, the unemployment rate is still very high and entrepreneurial development is still at its nadir. The entrepreneurial environment in Nigeria is not encouraging, even as the Federal Government is empowering the states to create their people's employment. The Nigerian economy has been taunted by bad leadership [1], corruption [2] and the likes leaving it in an unstable state. The Government has failed at various levels to provide jobs, thereby conforming to the saying that "government alone cannot provide jobs for everybody" and that "people should team to be self-employed." Many people, especially the educated ones, had always depended on the Government for employment after school [3]. Many of those who constitute the ruling class today in Nigeria started their careers from government employment, which was at the oil boom when the Nigerian economy depended significantly on oil revenue. Unfortunately, the reverse seems to be the country's present situation now, as the leaders are encouraged to become entrepreneurs and start their own business.

The Nigerian economy's failed state and its leadership have not produced anything since 1980. At least 60% of graduates cannot get employment immediately after graduation. Moreover, many learn different trades and work hard to be independent rather than looking up to the Government for the job. Therefore, the Nigerian Government's concern is to make as many people as possible, particularly the teaming young graduates self-employed. Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) contributing majorly in Nigeria and abroad cannot be overemphasised. According to Van Weezel [4], SMEs have created jobs in Organisation for Economic Corporation and Develop (OECD) countries since the 1970s, in which Nigeria is a member. SMEs' collective contributions to respective Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Australia and New Zealand, UK and USA, Canada and Japan and Luxembourg are huge irrespective of their sizes. According to Nwosu [5], 99% of small business in Nigeria is micro-businesses and they are the significant contributors to GDP and employment creation, while the remaining 1% are SMEs. Karvin [6] further posits that in a survey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, it was found that there are 17.28 million SMEs in Nigeria and Lagos state has the highest number representing 17% of the country's figure. SMEs essentially are the highest employers of labour and they employ about 70% of the workforce of any nation. This is why globally, the emphasis is on SMEs because they are the drivers of the economies around the globe. John-Akamelu and Muogbo [7] opine that in Nigeria, for example, SMEs are the primary source of employment and income generation.

Various policies like the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Open Apprenticeship Programme (OAP), Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and the current National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) have been put in place to fight unemployment. The policy thrust of NEEDS includes the following:

• Consolidation and strengthening an enabling environment for a competitive private sector

• Reduction of policy-related costs and risks, such as corruption, red tape and administrative barriers to business

• Reactivation of infrastructural facilities like electricity, transport and water, cheap and easy access to finance

• Rationalisation of fiscal, monetary and legal incentives to ensure that firms have access to them

All these aid the states in gaining from these federal policies. The different offices in charge of these policies opened up their branches in Nigeria's various locations to get to the grassroots.

Entrepreneurship is a better way to curb unemployment in Nigeria. Thus, knowledge of the strategic policies and their effects on SMEs will aid entrepreneurs in their decision-making. This study will equally guide prospective entrepreneurs on the best choice of businesses to go for as they go into entrepreneurship for the first time. South-eastern Nigeria lack information on the policies put in place by the State Government on this industry and this has crippled the owners of the industry. A study on how these strategic policies affect these SMEs' performance in Southeast Nigeria will aid the proprietors to know the best decisions for their businesses. This study focuses geographically on the small and medium enterprises in Southeast Nigeria, like the manufacturers of cosmetics and detergents, marble, roofing sheets, paint etc.

Statement of the Problem

The thrust of some entrepreneurial related public policies in Nigeria seeks to address the rapid increase and growth of a resilient and competitive private sector as a critical component of a sustainable reform programme. As a part of the transformation agenda, the Nigerian Government is working towards diversifying the economic base and reducing the relative dominance of the oil sector. As a developing nation, Nigeria desires to attain a high level of economic development. Horisch [8] describes economic development as a multidimensional process involving changes in structure, attitude and institution, reducing inequality, eradicating absolute poverty and increasing economic growth.

A superficial look at Nigeria indicates that she either lacks entrepreneurship ability or that government entrepreneurship oriented policies are insufficient. Weezel [9] argues that most entrepreneurship-related policies and programmes in Nigeria fall short of appropriate development frameworks. Some of the procedures are frequent, low-change policies and programs and lack of clear entrepreneurial development vision and commitment, posing a severe threat to Nigeria's entrepreneurship. Some of the related entrepreneurial policies are good but insufficient environmental forces hinder them. For instance, electricity supply, water, adequate and network are not available to encourage entrepreneurs. It is difficult or almost no access to finance; high import tariffs and other tariffs of Government pose a severe threat to the survival of young entrepreneurs. In light of the preceding, the following questions become pertinent:

• Are the policies relating to entrepreneurship in Nigeria adequately formulated and implemented?

• What effect of policies relating to environmental factors impaired entrepreneurial development in Nigeria?

• How has the incompatibility of policy goals affected entrepreneurship in Nigeria?

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study look at the role of public policy on entrepreneurial development in Nigeria. They are:

• To determine the extent of awareness of entrepreneurs on entrepreneurial policies in Southeast Nigeria

• To examine the extent to which the implementation of entrepreneurial policies is hindered in Southeast Nigeria

• To determine to what extent poor policies have impaired entrepreneurial development in Southeast Nigeria

• To determine the extent to which incompatible policies have affected entrepreneurship in Southeast Nigeria

Research Questions

The following research questions were formed in line with the objectives of this study:

• To what extent are entrepreneurs aware of entrepreneurial policies in Southeast Nigeria?

• To what extent are the implementation of entrepreneurial policies hindered in Southeast Nigeria?

• To what extent have the poor implementation of policies impaired entrepreneurial development in Southeast Nigeria

• To what extent have incompatible policies affected entrepreneurship in Southeast Nigeria?

Literature on policies and SMEs was reviewed in this research to get a healthy discussion on the variables of the subject that bother the performance of SMEs in Southeast Nigeria and the effect of strategic policies on these SMEs. The researchers' concepts clarified our entrepreneurship, public policymaking, policy implementation strategies, government entrepreneurship control and entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the ability and willingness of an individual to seek out investment opportunities, establish and run an enterprise successfully [10]. Entrepreneurship has been associated with establishing and operating business empires [8]. The activities include:

• Identification of investment opportunities 

• Decision making as to the opportunities to promote, exploit and establish the business enterprises

• The aggregate of the scarce resources required for production and distribution

• Organising and Managing human and material resources or the attainment of the objectives of enterprises

• Risk bearing

• Innovation

The above activities' effective performance is critical to business enterprises' birth, survival and growth. Therefore, entrepreneurship is a vital fact in the economic development of any nation. The concept of entrepreneurship autonomy in initiating economic activities is of great importance. Entrepreneurial behaviour is now required in the business management, especially in strategy formulation.

Horisch [8] argues that entrepreneurship comprises various activities carried out to ensure the growth and survival of businesses. Entrepreneurship ability is based on individual attributes, knowledge and experience to establish and operate a business. Onwuchekwa contends that entrepreneurship is an essential component of societal development. Today, most of the business organisations in our society came up through entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The recent developmental situation in Nigeria is bound to improve significantly if entrepreneurial practices are effectively implemented.

Public Policy Making

Public policy as a concept has become so controversial and perceived to mean different things to different scholars. This controversy has paved the way for academics to define public policy as it would suit their purpose. Nwizu simply describes it as a guiding principle that governs action, primarily repetitive actions; it decides what should be done and how, when and where. Chukwuemeka explains that public policy is the authoritative allocation of society's Value.

However, we suggest that public policy pronounces Government's intentions by people in positions of public trust, demanding governmental actions or inactions and impacting either negative or positive on most of the members of any given society. Public policy is a statement about the future intentions and directions of the Government.

Strategies for Policy Implementation

Implementation of the public policy refers to those activities directed towards putting a project into effect. The process involves organising the bureaucracy, marshalling out resources, assigning duties and responsibilities and making interim decisions. At the policy implementation stage, interest groups and individuals get aware of the assistance of the new policy and dually try to push' for either its total rejection or modification.

In a political system, the policy is implemented by involved administrative agencies, departments and sub-departments. For instance, the water and bureau of enterprises and electricity departments have roles. For policy implementation to be successful and effective, the following factors enunciated by Dror have to be taken into consideration:

• Communication: The people involved should be trained to understand what they are expected to ensure effective and successful implementation of the policies. Communication is vital in any organisation. The order has to be clear, accurate and consistent. There must be no ambiguity. The distortion must be minimal unless the communication is clear; it will be subject to minister predation. Poor communication always leads to crisis whether in the family, Government or organisation or at the community level

• Resources: The resources have to be there to implement policies. There must be adequate financial support which is a sine qua non, for adequate staffing, spare parts etc. In effect, all the necessary structure must be there. Unless the resources are there, the policy's implementation will be a farce; it may never be implemented. Often policy implementers in Nigeria complain of logistics, which arises from inadequate financing

• Disposition of Policy Implementer: The nature and attitude of the policy implementers are critical Factors in policy implementation; the policy implementer must desire to carry out the policy to eliminate policy frustration

• Bureaucratic Structure: Organisational fragmentation may hinder the coordination of a complex policy requiring the Cooperation of many people - a division of function can impede policy implementation. Rigid rules and regulations can constitute an obstacle; it minimises initiative and discretionary powers

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Most policies arc formulated and after that, the implementation is neither monitored nor evaluated. There must be continuous control checks to monitor and evaluate the implementation process to minimise the factors mentioned above

Government Control of Entrepreneurship

IIe argues that government control of any nature's business means every organised government action that affects business, whether the objective is to promote or guide or direct or restrict or limit or prohibit or ban certain types of activities. Does the question arise whether government control of the business in Nigeria has yielded any meaningful fruit? There is no gainsaying that the Government ought to provide employment for the teeming citizenry or create enabling environment to promote private business, especially entrepreneurship. Government control of the company is ideal but at the same time, it should be positive.

There are, however, many ways government could control entrepreneurship Nwankwo outlines some of the controls as administrative control, which involves using some government agencies like the Standard Organization of Nigeria. Nigeria Airports Authority, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Central Bank, Security and Exchange Commission, etc. Judicial control includes statutory enactments; jurists that rely upon principles developed in the common law to regulate commerce; however, judicial power in some cases is biased. Thus, those who have godfathers are treated as sacred cows, while those who do not have godfathers are victimised.

Uzochukwu also points out that the Government has legislative control over the business exercised through various pieces of legislation in Nigeria. Government enacts laws that prohibit specific business behaviour or demand a particular type of activity from business enterprises. The Government also directs business through the budget and monetary and fiscal policies. It is important to note that government policies are imperative to control the excesses of disgruntled business operators. However, the Government should be mindful of its policies and thoroughly assess policies before being churned out for implementation.

Why Policies May not Have Their Intended Impact

Policy evaluation often indicates that policies do not achieve the intended goals. A variety of factors may impede the attainment of policy goals, argues Adebayo. They are:

• The diversity of causes of the problem: Policy problems are often caused by multiple factors; harmful practices of sellers like commodity trade unionism could cause inflation. Uncontrolled wage/ salary increases can also drive inflation etc. Therefore, any policy made to control inflation should consider these extraneous viable. Procedure to encourage entrepreneurship should at the same time take the issue of electricity, water, good road network seriously

• Public policies have incompatible goals: When policies are made, argued Onyishi, without considering conflicting goals, it tends to affect the policy's impact. For instance, the late administration (Obasanjo) adopted the policy of poverty alleviation and promotion of socio-economic development and, at the same time, pursued a policy of retrenchment of thousands of workers from paid employment. In this case, one expects the crime wave and poverty to increase

• Resources: When a goods policy is formulated and the fund is not made available or adequate, such policies stand the chance of failing, e.g., most rural development policies failed due to inadequate funding. Also, entrepreneurship is not thriving in Nigeria properly due to insufficient funds to pursue the appropriate models and strategies

• Cost of problem-solving: Most public problems are so complex that the cost of alleviating the pain may be higher than the benefit that could accrue from such a policy

• The emergence of a new problem: Sometimes, in policy implementation, a new trial may arise, which automatically diverts attention from the existing situation. For instance, implementing rural development programmes and industrialisation could stem the rate of armed robbery in rural areas, which would constitute another big problem for the Government to control or solve

• The insolubility of same problems: Some policy problems may defy conclusive programmes may be challenging to thrive in some Islamic communities where women's education is not encouraged

Entrepreneurship and Government Policies

The private sector, argues Eze, fai1s to become more productive jobs, enhancing productivity and improving the quality of life. It is also said to be socially responsible by investing in Nigeria's corporate and social development and by actively promoting the country's units and cultural, educational, moral and social development. The attainment of these goals appears to be impossible. Many factors could be adduced to be responsible. Prominent among these factors range from strict control of the Government through its policies 'to difficulties sourcing funds due to harsh fiscal policies; the problems could be summarised as follows:

• The private sector is faced with a deficiency in such infrastructural facilities as electricity, water, roads and telecommunications. The deficit encumbers private enterprises, especially manufacturing industries 11w they have to undertake extra compensatory investment, which unduly enlarges the overhead and weakens the compositeness of local products against imported varieties. It will take longer before the private sector can play a significant role in providing utilities. The public sector must continue to shoulder this responsibility, given the lumpiness of the capital outlay required. The Government understands this problem and it appears that all programmes planned to improve power supply have failed. Changing the name National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) to Power Holding Company (PHC) has not changed the epileptic power supply

• Poor implementation of policy measures and incentives: There is poor implementation of policy measures and incentives, thus the administration of policy measures, especially about incentives: Should he simplify and accelerate realising that time is money. More SO in the private sector, some well-intentioned and partially effective policy measures are impaired through delayed or inadequate implementation

Other obstacles to entrepreneurship argue Obasi are:

• High tariff chargeable which weighs down new entrepreneurs

• Tax burden

• Excessive charges from local Government, ministry of commerce and industry and environment protection agencies

Epileptic electricity supply OSC danger even when the electricity is not supplied, the authority still circulates high rate hills. Okafor argues that entrepreneurship could only be sustained in Nigeria when all sundry could access hank interest rates at a meagre interest rate. Reasonable tax holidays should be granted to young investors.

Issues in the Nigerian Economic

Nigeria, with a population estimated at 140 million, is the largest country in Africa and one of the largest black people in the world, argues Soludo [11]. There are abundant mineral deposits that remain largely untapped. Currently, barely 40% of its arable land is under cultivation. With over to tertiary institutions producing more than 200,000 graduates per annum, the necessary human capital [or progress is there. It is estimated that about 17 million Nigerians live outside the country, with tens of thousands as world-class medical doctors and other professionals. Amid these resources, Nigeria (on average) stagnated over the period up to 1999. The bad economy and poverty situation worsened consistently such that by 1999 its increase was estimated at 70% [12].

The scope of our misfortunes is better underscored and appreciated when Nigeria is compared with Indonesia or other third world countries like Brazil and even Malaysia. In 1972, before Nigeria and Indonesia had the first oil boom, the two countries were comparable in almost all counts: agriculture, multi-ethnic and religious societies, the relative size of GDP, etc. Both experienced an oil boom in 1973 and after that but took different policy choices [11]. The outcomes of the variances in policy regimes are that today while manufacturing goods as a percentage of total exports are about 40% in Indonesia, it is less than 12% in Nigeria, where we were in the 1970s.

We hear of how Malaysia got her first palm seedlings from Nigeria in 1963. Today, Malaysia's palm oil export earned more than Nigeria's oil exports [2]. However, two brand names emerged in the international community to define Nigeria. "Advance Fee Fraud" (a.k.a. 419) and corruption as Transparency International consistently ranked her number one or number two most corrupt country in the world.

In International relations, Nigeria was a pariah state. In terms of her economy, the 1990s witnessed an average GDP growth rate of 2.8%, just about the population's quality of growth (2.8%) just about the status of development of the population (2.83%). This information available means that change was zero on a per capita basis using the decade of the 1990s, thus worsening the country's poverty incidence to 70%. The entire necessary infrastructure was in a crisis state, with barely 1700 MWII of electricity generated for a country that needed 50,000 MWH [13]. Needless to recount that there were the dilapidated road networks, transportation infrastructure and the developing, albeit fragile financial system that was ill-suited to the demands of investors. Poverty and unemployment were the twin faces of the economy [14].

Economic Development and SMEs

SMEs play a dynamic role in every economy, especially in developing countries; they are seen as engines for economic growth and development objectives. According to Analoui et al. [14], a review of the historical achievements and experience of economic growth and development in various third world countries is replete with success stories of the beneficial effect, positive impact and contributions of SMEs in industrial products, technological innovations and export promotion [15]. 

There is no generally accepted SME definition [16], because there are no uniform criteria to measure them in terms of capital outlay, employee strength, sales turnover, fixed capital investment, available plant and machinery, market share, level of development and even nomenclature [5]. These differences are from country to country, industry to industry, school to school and author to author [17].

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stated that while some countries prefer to categorise small enterprises into three, micro, small and medium or very small, small and medium, some other countries adopt two small and medium categories. Authors from various countries have varying definitions of SMEs based on the classification used in their countries and the guidelines approved by their governments [18]. To minimise the controversy likely to be generated by these disagreements in conceptual clarification, numerousauthors have reduced the criteria to be considered for SMEs definition into two [19]. These are theoretical and operational definitions. Metu and Nwokoye [17] explicitly points out that SMEs' theoretical explanation considers qualitative criteria such as autonomy, personal comprehensibility and the financial and emotional engagement of at least the owner [20].

The Three Sigma's Theory of Business

This model is as Peter Drucker described in "The theory of the business". The theory proposes that many businesses decline and fail because of the wrong assumptions that form the foundation for their fundamental business decisions (products, customers, markets, society, technology, their mission, etc.) become invalid and obsolete. The uncertainty of the future and the continuous changing of the social environment lead to the best business theories being outdated. For this reason, every business and organisation should periodically examine their fundamental assumptions to see if they continue to reflect the current trends and realities they face and if not, how they should be changed. This model provides the organisation and structure to identify and examine those assumptions and change them if necessary.

This model applies to business, Government and non-profit organisations. It can also be used for new companies and start-ups to identify, examine and make explicit assumptions that underlie their business planning.

The target population comprises small and medium scale enterprises in Southeast Nigeria. The number is somewhat infinite. Therefore the researchers decided to limit the target population to only the small and medium scale entrepreneurs involved in productive ventures in Southeast Nigeria. Therefore, our target population compared the following, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Target Population 

Sources: Field Survey

The data for this study was obtained from primary sources and collected from the registered SMEs involved in productive ventures in Southeast Nigeria. The study covered Southeast Nigeria; most SMEs in the metropolis of these Southeastern states are registered with the state government. The sampled SMEs were used because they are SMEs into productive ventures and the simple random sampling technic was used to sample the SMEs.

Sample Size Determination 

Since our population has been reduced to a definite proportion, we select our sample using the Taro Yamane formula:

Where:

n  =          Sample size

N =          Population

e  =          Error margin

I   =          Constant 

n  =          84

Sample Allocation

N1                           3

N2                           2

N3                           4

N4                           74

N5                           1

n                              84

This research work is based mainly on primary and secondary data sources. Questionnaires were the main tools used for primary data collection. Section data were essentially collected from textbooks, journals and publications on entrepreneurship. The data collected was be analysed and tested using frequency tables, percentages, Pearson Product-Moment correlation analysis and regression analysis. 

Limitations of the Study

This study was mostly limited by the lack of data, which was due to the SMEs' owners being not ready to release information concerning their business to the researchers. Most of them believed the researchers were getting the tax officers' report; some even denied being registered SMEs. While other entrepreneurs insisted that giving us the information we asked for would not help them since the researchers were not from the Government.

Data Analysis, Findings and Discussion

The data collected from the field during the survey were thoroughly analysed in this chapter. The presentations are based on four research questions postulated to guide the study. In the course of the distribution of questionnaires, ninety (90) questionnaires were distributed, eighty-seven (87) were collected and eighty-four (84) were accepted and used, while three of the questionnaires were void.

Findings of the Study

In section A of the questionnaire with the personal data of the respondents, the information collated were analysed as follows in Table 2.

Table 2 shows that out of the respondents that answered the questionnaire, fifteen of the business owners were within the ages of 30-40 and nineteen were within the ages of 41-50. Twenty-nine of the respondents were 51-60 years old, while twenty 21 were above 60 years old, showing that most of the respondents were 51-60.

Table 2: Section A, Item 1

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

In line with the Table 3 more employees were willing and had more time to attend to the business owners' research assistants. Thus the majority of the respondents were employees.

Table 3: Section A, Item 2

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

According to Table 4, most business owners started running small businesses in their younger ages and none started above 61.

Table 4: Section A, Item 3

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

The frequency of Table 5 shows that more of the business owners have run their business for 2-5 years, followed by those that have run theirs for less than two years.

Table 5: Section A, Item 4

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

Research Question One

To what extent are entrepreneurs aware of entrepreneurial policies in Southeast Nigeria?

Table 6 shows that out of the 84 respondents, 83% (56+28), representing 73 respondents, agreed that it is not easy to get information on entrepreneurial policies in Southeast Nigeria. 16% (3+13) of the respondents disagreed because none was recorded as neutral. The findings reveal that it is easy for entrepreneurs to access information on policies.

Table 6: Research Question One

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

Also, 83% (59+24) agreed that the South-eastern State government does not ensure that all entrepreneurs are aware of entrepreneurial policies. 17% (10+7) disagreed because none of the respondents was neutral to the subject. The findings further confirmed that the Government ensures that the entrepreneurs know the existing policies.

Finally, on research question one, 89% of the respondents agreed. Most SMEs in Southeast Nigeria are not aware of entrepreneurial policies in the state. 10% (3+7) of the respondents disagreed with this fact, while 1% was neutral about it. The respondents' submissions further confirm that business start-ups have a significant relationship with the apprenticeship system.

Research Question Two

To what extent are the implementation of entrepreneurial policies hindered in Southeast Nigeria?

Table 7 shows the analysis of research question two. 84% (31+53) agreed with the questionnaire item that entrepreneurial policies affect SMEs' networks in Southeast Nigeria. 14% (8+6) disagreed with the subject, while 2% was neutral to the topic. The findings show that entrepreneurial policies affect the network of the owners of SMEs.

Table 7: Research Question Two

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

Also, 82% (41+41) of the respondents agree that the entrepreneurial policies are not affected in South-eastern State's SMEs. 18% (10+8) disagreed with the subject, while none of the respondents was neutral.

Finally, 63% (26+36) agreed that the South-eastern State government does not implement entrepreneurial policies. About 6% were neutral, while 31% disagreed with the subject. The findings further confirmed that the state government does not enforce entrepreneurial policies.

Research Question Three

To what extent have the poor implementation of policies impaired entrepreneurial development in Southeast Nigeria?

Table 8 shows the analysis of research question three as 89% (56+33) of the respondents agree that the poor implementation by the Government has adversely affected SMEs. 1% of the respondents were neutral, while 10% disagreed with the subject. 

Table 8: Research Question Three

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

Also, 84% (31+53) agreed that the lack of implementation of the policies demoralises the SMEs in the South-eastern States. 2% of the respondents were neutral, while 14% disagreed with this fact.

Finally, 87% (56+31) of the respondents agreed that the South-eastern State Government is responsible for implementing these entrepreneurial policies. None of the respondents was neutral, while 13% (6+7) disagreed with this fact. The findings further confirmed that the South-eastern State Government is responsible for implementing these entrepreneurial policies.

Research Question Four

To what extent have incompatible policies affected entrepreneurship in Southeast Nigeria?

Table 9 shows the analyses of research question four, 69% (38+31) of the respondents agree that the incompatible policies have killed many SMEs in Southeast Nigeria. 13% of the respondents were neutral, while 18% (8+10) disagreed with the subject.

Table 9: Research Question Four

Source: Researcher's Field Survey

Furthermore, 48% (15+33) of the respondents agreed that these incompatible policies could hardly encourage the owners of small businesses in Southeast Nigeria. 8% were neutral, while 44% disagreed with the subject.

Finally, 38% of the respondents agreed that the entrepreneurs could survive in Southeast Nigeria whether the policies are compatible or not. 4% of the respondents were neutral, while 58% (33+25) disagreed because it is the master's responsibility. This further confirms that incompatible policies affected entrepreneurship in Southeast Nigeria.

Entrepreneurship is very vital, especially to new states. It is a veritable tool that could foster self-reliance generating growth. Entrepreneurship would also occasion an increase in the state's economy. Furthermore, it would reduce the high rate of import substitution industries and marginalisation of the peasantry. It would also reduce the influx of multinationals with the attendant monopoly capitalism.

Summary of Findings

The summary shows precisely the result of the research as derived from focused group discussion, literature review and face to face interview that:

Policies in the Southeast, especially the aspects that are supposed to address entrepreneurial environments, are formulated without considering incompatible goals as they are mainly passed down from the Federal Government.

Overtaxing, high tariffs and the nefarious activities of hoodlums who hide under the cloak of local government revenue agents, ministry of commerce and industry and environmental authority have done a lot of harm to entrepreneurship growth in Nigeria.

In line with the summaries on this subject, the research concludes the following:

• Adequate resources are not always available to pursue a public policy to make the best and intended impact on the SMEs

• The Government has not pursued energy, water, road construction and other policies relating to entrepreneurship because the inherent problems are so complex that the cost of following the guidelines may be higher than the benefit. No entrepreneur could thrive in an environment like ours

Recommendations

In light of the previous, the following recommendations have been put forward:

• The Government is required to consider all the conflicting factors before formulating and implementing policies

• An adequate fund is required to pursue policy objectives to ensure a high rate of success

• In formulating power/energy policies, all the stakeholders should ensure that areas of problems are addressed and those involved in the implementation need to have the technical know-how required

Proposal for Further Studies

Further studies should be done in a broader scope like the whole of Southeast Nigeria or Nigeria to aid the researchers in gaining more information and insight into the subject.

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