Small scale industries in Nigeria concepts, appraisal of some government policies and suggested solutions to identified problems

Abstract

This paper analysed the concept of small-scale industries in Nigeria. After suggesting a modification to the extant definitions with a view to harmonising them, it appraised government small-scale industrial policy which is based on realising the conceptualised advantages of the small-scale paradigm. The analysis paid special attention to the funding of these enterprises. Whereas failure of the large-scale import-dependent assembly plants to propel the country into a satisfactory course of industrialisation necessitated the diversification of strategy to embrace the promotion of small-scale enterprises, achievement under the new strategy has not been commensurate with expectations in terms of the stated objectives which were economic self-reliance through the mobilisation of available local resources, employment generation, and industrial dispersal as well as mitigation of rural urban migration.