BUSINESS MENTORING AS A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
(A STUDY OF SELECTED ENTREPRENEURS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS)
ABSTRACT
This research work, examined business mentoring as a tool for sustainability of entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. A study of selected entrepreneurs in Enugu metropolis. The objectives of the study include to: find out how guidance provided by mentors sustains entrepreneurship development in Enugu State, ascertain the relationship between empowering and professional development provided by mentors and entrepreneurships development in Enugu State, determine the effect of reflecting on past experiences on sustaining entrepreneurship development in Enugu State and examine how encouraging capability provided by mentors affect entrepreneurship development in Enugu State. The research method adopted by the researcher was the survey research method. The major instrument of data collection was the questionnaire. The sources of data used were the primary and secondary sources of data. The population of the study was 196 while the sample size of 196 was determined by applying the rule governing population and sampling. The major instrument of data collection was the questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested using the chi-square distribution formula. The findings include that guidance provided by mentors has a positive effect on entrepreneurship development, empowering and professional development provided by mentors have a significant relationship with entrepreneurship development, reflecting on past experiences has a positive effect on sustaining entrepreneurship development and encouraging capability provided by mentors has a positive effect on entrepreneurship development. The researcher concluded that business mentoring is a powerful tool for sustainable entrepreneurship development and it was recommended that entrepreneurs should try to engage in mentoring relationship, as guidance provided by mentors has a positive effect on entrepreneurship development, entrepreneurs should seek professional development,, entrepreneurs should always reflect on the past experiences of the mentors and entrepreneurs should always seek encouragement from their mentors.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1     Background of the Study                        
1.2     Statement of the Problem                        
1.3     Objectives of the Study                         
1.4     Research Questions                            
1.5     Statement of Hypotheses                         
1.6     Significance of the Study                        
1.7    Scope of the Study                             
1.8    Limitations of the Study                        
1.9    Operational Definition of Terms                    
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1    Conceptual Framework of the Study            
2.2     Theoretical Framework of the Study                
2.3     Empirical Review                            
2.4 Gap in the Review of Related Literature            
2.4 Summary of Review of Related Literature            
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1    Research Design                            
3.2    Sources of Data                            
3.2.1    Primary Sources                            
3.2.2 Secondary Sources                            
3.3    Area of the Study                            
3.4     Population of the Study                        
3.5    Sample Size Determination                     
3.6     Instruments for Data Collection                
3.7    Validity of the Instrument                     
3.8    Reliability of the Instrument                    
3.9     Method of Data Presentation and Analysis        
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1    Data Presentation and Analysis                 
4.2    Bio-Data of the Respondent                    
4.3     Data Relating To Research Questions            
4.4    Test of Hypotheses                            
4.5    Discussion of Findings                         
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1    Summary of Findings                         
5.2     Conclusion                                 
5.3     Recommendations                             
5.4    Contribution to Knowledge                     
5.5     Suggestions for further Research                
List of References                             
Appendix                                    
Questionnaire                                
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background of the Study
The roots of the practice are lost in antiquity. The practice of mentoring dates back to the Homer’s odyssey. Though the actual mentor in the story is a somewhat ineffective old man, the goddess Athena takes on his appearance, in order to guide young Telemachus in his time of difficulty.
    The goal of many individuals is to be successful in their careers or jobs. While there are many ways an individual can achieve this end (Runciman, 2012:78), one method in particular, i.e. securing a mentor, has been receiving an increasing amount of attention in the management literature in the last decade. In general, mentoring is considered to be a developmental relationship that enhances both an individual’s growth and advancement (Allen, 2013:106).
    In the words of Gray (2012:142) mentors provide their mentee with job and psychosocial functions which includes exposure, coaching, protection, challenging assignments as well as role models, providing friendship, counseling, acceptance and confirmation. As a result of these activities, the mentee’s sense of competence, identity and work role effectiveness is augmented, the end result being job enhancement and advancement. To Dewar (2011:88), through the mentoring process, mentors have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and expand their perspectives. In addition to the benefits gained by mentees and the mentors, organization’s also gain a great deal from having a mentoring programe. Mentoring contributes to the development of a “pipeline” of talent and provides a process to transfer formal leadership skills from today’s leaders to the leaders of the future.
    Adeyemi (2012:178), states that the prosperity and progress of a nation, depends on the quality of its people. If they are enterprising, ambitious and courageous enough to bear the risk, the community/society will develop quickly. Such people are identified as entrepreneurship. The concept of entrepreneurship has been associated with several activities concerned with the establishment and operating of business enterprises. In the words of Inegbenebor (2010:82), these activities include identification of investment opportunities, decision making as to opportunities to exploit, promote and establish the business enterprises, aggregation of the scarce resources required for production and distribution, organization and management of human and material resources for the attainment of the objectives of the enterprises, risk bearing and innovation.
    Infact, an effective performance of the above activities is critical to the birth survival and growth of the business enterprises. Entrepreneurship is therefore, a vital factor in the process of economic development of any nation (Ile, 2005:321). Unfortunately in Nigeria, government has been clamouring for entrepreneurship development, especially now that the price of crude oil has crashed in the international market. Many people have been discouraged from going into business as a result of so many factors like epileptic power supply, lack of adequate capital, lack of government support and inability to get a suitable mentor. It is based on this backdrop that the research wants to examine business mentoring as a tool for sustainable entrepreneurship development in Enugu State.
1.2    Statement of the Problem
The consequences of not having a mentor could make an entrepreneur, not to develop in business experience. This is because, many people go into entrepreneurship without actually having experience in that particular line of business. Hence, a mentor who is believed to have wide experience could be of help  
Moreover, the inability to have a mentor could lead to wrong business decisions as a result of not being guided.  Businessmen usually make mistakes as a result of not having a mentor. These mistakes have caused many of them big business opportunities.
Furthermore, the inability to have mentor can cause many entrepreneurs to loose confidence in themselves. Mentors encourage the capabilities of businessmen, hence, in the absence of mentoring, businessmen usually loose confidence, which is vital for the success of their business.
Finally, ability of forecast well, which is very important for business development will be lacking as the entrepreneur does not have any past experience to reflect on.  
1.3    Objectives of the study
The general objective of the study was to examine business mentoring as a tool for sustainable entrepreneurship development in Enugu State. However, the specific objectives include;
(1)    To find out how guidance provided by mentors sustains entrepreneurship development  in Enugu State
(2)    To ascertain the relationship between empowering and professional development provided by mentors and entrepreneurships development in Enugu State.
(3)    To determine the effect of reflecting on past experiences on sustaining entrepreneurship development in Enugu State
(4)    To examine how encouraging capability provided by mentor ors affect entrepreneurship development in Enugu State.
1.4    Research Questions
    Based on the objectives of the study, the following research questions were raised;
(1)    How does guidance provided by mentors sustain entrepreneurship development in Enugu State?
(2)    What is the relationship between empowering and professional development provided by mentors and entrepreneurships development in Enugu State?
(3)    What is the effect of reflecting on past experiences on sustaining entrepreneurship development in Enugu State?
(4)    How does encouraging capability provided by mentors affect entrepreneurship development in Enugu State?
1.5    Statement of Hypotheses
    Based on the research questions, the following hypotheses were formulated;
Hypothesis One
H0:    Guidance provided by mentors does not sustain entrepreneurship development in Enugu State.
H1:    Guidance provided by mentors sustains entrepreneurship development in Enugu State.
Hypothesis Two
H0:    There is no significant relationship between empowering and professional development provided by mentors and entrepreneurships development in Enugu State.
H1:    There is a significant relationship between empowering and professional development provided by mentors and entrepreneurships development in Enugu State
Hypothesis Three
H0:    Reflecting on past experiences has no positive effect on sustaining entrepreneurship development in Enugu State.
H1:    Reflecting on past experiences has a positive effect on sustaining entrepreneurship development in Enugu State
Hypothesis Four
H0:    Encouraging capability provided by mentors does not affect entrepreneurship development in Enugu State.
H1:    Encouraging capability provided by mentors affect entrepreneurship development in Enugu State
1.6    Significance of the Study
This research work is important because it examines business mentoring as a tool for sustainable entrepreneurship development. So many people will benefit from this research. Among them are entrepreneurs, government, the researcher, the universities and the general public. The entrepreneurs will benefit from this research as they will be more enlightened on the role of business mentoring in entrepreneurship development. Government will benefit as the study is a partial requirement for the award of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Business Administration and the general public will benefit as the study enhances job creation and will also reduce crime.
1.7    Scope of the Study
    This research work covered the effect of business mentoring on profitability, sales turnover and customer turnover of entrepreneurs in Enugu State.
1.8    Limitations of the Study
The researcher encountered some impediments in the course of carrying out this research. Among them were Time, Finance and uncooperative attitude of respondents.
Finance:    The researcher spent some money browsing and printing out relevant materials related to the research.
Time:    The researcher carried out part of this research using the time for lectures and assignment. This made the researcher to miss some lectures.
Uncooperative Attitude of Respondents: The respondents, were economical with information, but when they confirmed that the research was purely for academic purpose, they gave out useful information.
1.9    Operational Definition of Terms
Business:    This is the sum of all lawful human oriented activities involved in providing people with goods or services for a profit.
Mentoring:    This is the offline help by one person in making significant transitions in knowledge, work or thinking.
Mentor:    He/she is someone who helps another to become what that person aspires.
Mentee:    This is the person who seeks help from the mentor.