ABSTRACT

This study is aimed at examining the challenges



of women in starting a business enterprise in Nigeria with reference to textile



seller in Lagos Island. The specific



objectives include: (i) to examine the factors that motivate women enterprise with



the sector; (ii) to determine the relationship between the factors that



motivate women entrepreneurs and the challenges they face in business (iii) to



examine the relationship between the factors that motivate women entrepreneurs



and their type of business ownership; (iv) to determine if there is



significant relationship between environmental factors and women



entrepreneurial motivation.  The data



required for this study was gathered through the instruments of questionnaire,



in-depth interview and participant observation. 



Five hundred and seventy (570) copies of questionnaires were



administered out of which four hundred and twenty two (422) copies of the



questionnaires were collated for the analysis. 



To achieve the objectives of this study, four hypotheses were formulated



from the structure of research questions. 



Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), chi-square, and descriptive analysis and



other statistical tools were used in testing these hypotheses.  The results show significant relationship



between motivational patterns of women entrepreneurs and their performance; the



challenges they face in business; their type of business ownership and



environmental factors. Based on these findings and for policy implications, the



study suggests that more women should be encouraged to start business and be



equipped with managerial skills for effective performance.