Title: Family legacy and female entrepreneurs: insights from Nigeria

Authors: Satwinder Singh, Chima Mordi, Chinonye Okafor

Addresses: Brunel Business School, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK. ' Brunel Business School, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK. ' College of Business and Social Sciences, Covenant University, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract: Analysis based on primary data shows that Female Entrepreneurs (FEs) from self-employed parental households display taste for risk-taking and selecting businesses in which risk factors are considered to be higher as well. They are also of a competitive nature, holding the belief that they have the requisite skills for their chosen businesses and that they would still be in such a position even if they were not making enough profit. Their decision to be in business is based on clever judgement and reading of the market, and accordingly making the first move. FEs do so to have a sense of self-independence and achievement, to earn extra income and to build equity for retirement. The family legacy factor is considered significant, as many seem to choose the business owing to the fact that not only it is peculiar to their family, but also because it will enable them to be involved in the family decision-making process.

Keywords: female entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; women; gender; family legacies; Z-statistics; zero-order correlations; logistic regressions; Nigeria; Africa; self-employed parents; risk-taking; risk factors; competitiveness; skills; profits; profitability; judgement; market analysis; self-independence; achievement; extra income; equity building; retirement; legacy factors; business choice; decision-making; management practice; family businesses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2010.036830

International Journal of Management Practice, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.273 - 292

Published online: 11 Nov 2010 *

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