MARITIME ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED RIVERINE COMMUNITIES IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study evaluated the impact of maritime entrepreneurship on economic development in selected riverine communities in Anambra State. Specifically, the study sought to determine the extent to which maritime entrepreneurship enhance employment creation; boost rural economy; and enhance the income of the rural population in riverine communities in Anambra State. Relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literatures were reviewed. The study was anchored on theories of the Refugee and Schumpeter effects. Survey research design was adopted. The population of the study constitutes all the maritime entrepreneurs in three selected riverine communities in Anambra State. The communities include Atani, Otuocha and Omor. Sample size of 90 maritime entrepreneurs was purposively selected for the study. Questionnaire was employed as the instrument of data collection. Simple regression was employed in analyzing the data. The study found that maritime entrepreneurship has significant impact on employment creation in the riverine communities. Also, maritime entrepreneurship was found to have enhanced the income of the rural population in the riverine communities. The study further found that maritime entrepreneurship boost rural economy in the riverine communities. Based on the foregoing, the study concludes that maritime entrepreneurship has significant impact on economic development in riverine communities in Anambra State. The study therefore recommends that specialized training programmes in entrepreneurship should be organised to expose potential and existing maritime entrepreneur to risk-taking strategies inherent in self-employment and wealth creation.