CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

For the past decades, small business enterprises in Nigeria were characterized as

essentially backward and a cog in the wheel of the overall development of the Nigeria economy.

As a result of this, there has been a prevalent feeling that such businesses could be assisted only

for social reasons, not as a promising opportunity for national development. Obviously, too little

attention has been paid to the benefits to be derived from helping small enterprises to modernize

and grow. This attitude arose partly amongst both the citizens and government and mainly from

to the very nature of the small scale business which made it difficult for its impact to be felt in

the economy. Evidence around the world indicate that small scale enterprises provide an

effective means of stimulating indigenous entrepreneurship, enhancing greater employment

opportunities per unit of capital invested and aiding the development of technology. Through

their wide dispersal, they provide an effective means of mitigating rural-urban migration and

resource utilization.1

A small scale and medium enterprise is a business that is not large, in terms of its size,

scope of operation, financial involvement and the workforce involved. Most small scale

enterprises are owned by one entrepreneur. Sometimes a small scale enterprise is said to be a

firm that is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of

operation. In general, we should recognize that a small scale business must have few employees,

limited capital investment and small scale operation. As far as the development of the rural and

urban areas in Nigeria is concerned, the role of small scale enterprises cannot be under-

1
Nicholas, S: Small Business Management , Million Publishing Company, 1997, Pp.77-78
estimated. The present administration realizes the importance of these small scale ventures hence

the various policies being put in place to encourage their growth. 2

The small scale businesses have the potentiality to reduce the rate of unemployment in

Nigeria and thus to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and economic growth of the

nation. The industrialized nations which have attained technological advancement today owe

their present position to the establishment of small scale industries in the past. The small scale

businesses served as pivot for technological take off and self-reliance. In the commercial world,

there are numerous kinds of business undertakings. This varies from private enterprises to public

corporations. 3

A medium scale enterprise is defined as a business which is independent, small in size

and often localized. Most small scale businesses are operated by private individuals or group of

individuals. In general, a small scale enterprise is a business in which its owner influences the

entire decision-making process and the business has relatively small market share and low

capital requirement for its operation. Due to the positive contribution of small scale businesses to

the economic development of the nation, there is the increased need for the government to be

seriously involved in the support and encouragement of the small scale ventures to enable them

realize their full potentials to the benefit of the whole nation. In this case, this present study

would examine the impact of small and medium scale enterprises to development of Bwari Area

Council, Abuja.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

Nigeria is currently witnessing an alarming rate of unemployment rate is growing tin

geometric progression. The economy is also increasingly finding it difficult to cope as Nigerian

2
Oshagbemi, T. : Small Business Management in Nigeria, London: Longman,1983, P.77
3
Oshagbemi, T. : Small Business Management in Nigeria,P.78
economy is waning. A lot of experts have called for the creation of an enabling environment for

small –scale enterprise to thrive. They cited Asian “Tigers” such as Malaysia, China, Sought

Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand where both the government and individuals knowing

the importance of small scale industrial development join forces together in fostering effective

and sustainable small scale enterprises in their countries. Evidence also abound that in the above

mentioned places, a lot is being done to empower the growth of this sub sector of the economy.

The role small scale industries in the development of indigenous technology cannot therefore be

over emphasized. Thus, the fundamental questions for this research include:

i. What is the nature of geographical in Bwari Local Government Area Council of Abuja?

ii. Who are the people of Bwari, Abuja and who founded it?

iii. What are the roles of small scale enterprises in the development of Bwari Local

Government Area Council, Abuja?

iv. What were the challenges faced by small scale enterprises in the development of Bwari

Local Government Area Council in Abuja?

1.3 Aim and Objectives

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of small and medium scale enterprises to

development of Bwari Area Council, Abuja. However, the specific objectives of the study are

to:

i. Assess the nature of geographical in Bwari Local Government Area Council of Abuja;

ii. Discuss the people of Bwari, Abuja and who founded it;

iii. Examine the roles of small scale enterprises in the development of Bwari Local

Government Area Council, Abuja;

 iv. Discuss the challenges faced by small scale enterprises in the development of Bwari

Local Government Area Council in Abuja

1.4 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study is specifically on the impact of small and medium scale enterprises to

development of Bwari Area Council, Abuja from 1976 - 2019. The choice of 1976 as the starting

point for this study hinges on the fact that it was in that year many small scale business, in which

experienced tremendous boost in economic activities.

The terminal of the work in 2019 was purely memorable as it marked the wide rise of

private firm in the town.

Several problems/limitation were encounter in the course of this research such as in the

area of the source used. Most of the secondary source materials are not directly on Bwari Local

Government Area, and the oral interview with the resource persons faced numerous challenges

as some of the respondent failed to release information. Financial and time constraint was also a

limitation to this research work considering the time of lectures clashed with field work.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study is thus important because of its potentiality in the development of the small

business sector which has been characterized as the “man carrier of development and the engine

of social and economic growth” in Nigeria. The study will also help in identifying why people

don’t go into small –scale enterprise despite its numerous advantages. It will also find our

problems encountered while running the business.

The study will help government identify areas requiring attention, thus stimulating

government into proper directing of loans and incentives to improve upon existing ventures. It
will also provide useful guide for prospective entrepreneur that wish to choose self-employment

as a career. And finally, it will serve as secondary data for subsequent studies by a prospective

researcher

\ Lastly, this research shall expose the challenges of Small and Medium Scale Business in

Bwari Area Council of Abuja which will be relevant to the policy marker and other

governmental institutions concerned. It would enable the governmental institutions to know

where to channel their efforts towards.

1.6 Research Methodology

The aim and objectives of every research is to achieve through efficient and effective

utilization of strategies, techniques, processes and resources available. The strategies, techniques,

techniques and the processes constitute the methodology. Historical research method was

adopted in this study. This method involves diligent, intensive and extensive collection,

collation, interpretation and analysis of primary and secondary source materials.

The primary source include oral data (oral tradition and oral evidence), archival

materials, archaeological evidences and governmental and non-governmental publications, while

secondary sources include books, magazines, newspapers, unpublished these, journals and

internet sources. Field trip was conducted in Bwari local government area of Abuja town for

personal observation and verification of information obtained from the written or published

works.

In the course of this research, the researcher was able to interview sixteen (16) persons,

comprising ten men and six women. The interviews sessions was conducted in English and

Hausa language depending on the literacy level of the interviewee. Beyond this, various books,

magazines, newspapers, unpublished these, journals and internet sources were consulted for this
work. Furthermore, some of the works were collected from the personal libraries, the libraries of

the University of Abuja. Relevant information from the primary and secondary sources were

extracted, re-examined before integration and making of conclusion.

1.7 Review of Related Literature

Many works on the impact of small scale enterprise to the development of host

communities were available for review, but only few of these works have direct bearing on the

present study. One of such is Akwu and Emeti’s work titled Issues, Challenges and Prospects of

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Port-Harcourt City, Nigeria. 4 The work

discusses issues, challenges and prospects of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Port-

Harcourt City, Nigeria. He made emphasis that poor financing, inadequate social infrastructures,

lack of managerial skills and multiple taxation were major challenges confronting SMEs in Port-

Harcourt City, thus recommended the provision of soft loans to SMEs operators, government

guaranteeing of long-term loans to SMEs operators, establishment of SMEs funding agency,

public/private sector partnership in infrastructural provision, capacity building for SMEs

operators and provision of tax incentives for SMEs operators . Although, the work highlights the

contribution of small and medium enterprise to economic growth but did not focus on Bwari

Local Government Area or mention Abuja.

One other important work that this present study benefitted from is the work of Alabi,

Awe and Musa titled Managing Small And Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria: Challenges

and Prospect.5 In their work, Alabi, Awe and Musa addressed the problems of finance facing

small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. They also identified the sources of finance, types

of finance available to small scale enterprises and the various financial challenges bedeviling the
4
O. Akwu and C. Emeti: Issues, Challenges and Prospects of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Port-
Harcourt City, Nigeria in European Journal of Sustainable Development ,2014,Vol. 3,Pp. 101-114
5
Y. Alabi, O. Awe and L. Musa: Managing Small And Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria: Challenges and
Prospect in Review of Public Administration and Management , Vol. 3, No. 7, July 2015, Pp. 72-79.
smooth operation of small and medium scale enterprises and suggested the way forward. It is

discovered that though adequate finance is indispensable for the successful operation of small

and medium scale enterprises, government should create a more conducive environment for

small scale business to thrive by streamlining business tax policies to eliminate extortion from

small scale businesses. Indeed, the work was found relevant to the present study however, did

not focus on small scale business in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

Mention must also be made to the work of Obi titled The Role of Small-Scale Enterprises

in the Achievement of Economic Growth in Nigeria. 6 This particular work especially examined

the role of small scale enterprises in the achievement of economic growth in Nigeria. The

problems hindering the small scale enterprises from achieving their full potentials as the agents

of growth and development were highlighted. Suggestions and recommendations were made

with a view to solving the identified problems. In addition, the author also states that small scale

provide employment to large number of Nigerians residing in both the rural areas and the urban

centres thereby helping to solve the nagging problem of unemployment in the country. When

unemployed people are given gainful employment, it reduced the spate of social ills, such as,

robbery, prostitution, advance fee fraud (419) and kidnapping in the society. No doubt, many of

the sources used in Obi ’s work were also relevant to this research . Nevertheless, the work did

not mention any challenges of small scale enterprise in the town.

Another relevant work for this research is Muritala and Bako titled: Impact of Small and

Medium Enterprises on Economic Growth and Development.7 The work explains the role of

Small and Medium Enterprises as a veritable tool in Economic Growth and Development. A

survey method was used to gather data from 200 SME/Entrepreneurial officers and Managers
6
U Obi: The Role of Small-Scale Enterprises in the Achievement of Economic Growth in Nigeria’’ International
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol.3, No. 1, 2015, Pp. 1272- 1282.
7
O. Obi: The Role of Small-Scale Enterprises in the Achievement of Economic Growth in Nigeria in American
Journal of Business and Management, Vol. 04, 2013; Pp. 38-41.
from five selected local government in Nigeria namely; Ijebu North, Yewa South, Sagamu,

Odeda and Ogun Waterside Local government. The authors furthered reveals that the most

common constraints hindering small and medium scale business growth in Nigeria are lack of

financial support, poor management, corruption, lack of training and experience, poor

infrastructure, insufficient profits, and low demand for product and services. Hence, it therefore

recommends that Government should as matter of urgency assist prospective entrepreneurs to

have access to finance and necessary information relating to business opportunities, modern

technology, raw materials, market, plant and machinery which would enable them to reduce their

operating cost and be more efficient to meet the market competitions. This present work find

Muritala and Bako’s work sufficient however, he did not talk about Abuja per se. This present

work will emphasize on this aspect which the researcher left untouched.

Furthermore, the work Udoh and Udofia titled Land Subsidence Monitoring Using

Geographic Information System (GIS) Techniques in Abuja, Nigeria. 8 According to the authors,

Abuja is susceptible to subsidence as a result of complex interaction between anthropogenic

activities and natural processes. As an area of subterranean fluid extraction, the study arose

because of the need for subsidence monitoring so as to minimize the anticipated resultant risk

analyzed on the impact of education on economic growth of Nigeria using ordinary test squares

(OLS) to determine the relationship between education as human capital and Real Gross

Domestic Product (GDP). All mentioned was also found relevant to the present study because it

serve as guide and knowledge in which the present study extracted.

Another relevant work which this present work benefitted from is the work of Hassan and

Shuaibu titled: A Chronicle of Abuja.9 The work extremely discussed a chronicle analysis of the

8
C. Udoh and E. Udofia: Land Subsidence Monitoring Using Geographic Information System (GIS) Techniques in
Abuja, Nigeria” in Current World Environment Journal, Vol. 9(1), 1-6, 2014 Pp. 1-5
9
G. Hassan and N. Shuaib,: A Chronicle of Abuja , Ibadan, The Caxton Press, 1962,p.67
Abuja town and people. Starting from the history of the emirate, reign of many traditional rulers

and development. Most of the information provided in this work was found relevant for this

present however the work only emphasized much on reign of the rulers.

The work of Ola Balogun titled: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography

of its Development.10 was also found sufficient. Ola scholarly discussed the establishment of

Federal Capital Territory, past development of the city and its regional component, the master

plan, population growth and the administration of the Federal Capital Territory. Indeed, the

attributes of this work is useful in the area of land and the people of Abuja and also in the area of

the geographical features of Abuja however, mention was not made on Bwari Area Council nor

small scale enterprise .

Critique

On the whole, there are copious amount of works on small and medium scale enterprise,

and Abuja but few or none of these work centered on the establishment and impact of small and

medium scale enterprise in Bwari Area Council of Abuja though, these works have relevant

discussion on Abuja and small and medium scale enterprise which the present study can benefit

from.

Beyond this, most of these works were sometimes not written by trained historians. Thus,

the authenticity and reliability of their sources of information could not be established.

Therefore, there is the need to re-examine the existence evidence, conduct fresh interviews, and

revaluate existing literature for comprehensive and factual information. This present work

focused the impact of small and medium scale enterprises to development of Bwari Area

Council, Abuja from 1976 - 2019. Most importantly, this work emphasized the impact and

10
A. Balogun: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development, Ibadan, University
Press,2001, Pp.11-18
challenges of small and medium scale enterprises in Bwari Area Council, Abuja a terra

incognita in scholarly works.

CHAPTER TWO

LAND AND PEOPLE OF FCT-ABUJA

2.1 Geographical Features of Abuja

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), also known as Abuja Federal Capital Territory,

administrative territory, central Nigeria, was created in 1976. The Federal Capital Territory lies

between latitudes 8° 25'N and 9° 20'S and longitude 6° 39’W and occupies a total land area of

8000sq.km and is bounded to the North by Abuja and Nassarawa States, to the South by Kogi

and Kwara States and to the West by Niger State respectively. The land is located in a scenic

valley of rolling hills and grasslands within an ethnically neutral area where none of Nigeria's

socio-cultural and religious groups has a dominant influence.11

Climate

The climate in Abuja is tropical. The summers Abuja have a good deal of rainfall, while

the winters have very little. The average annual temperature is 25.7 °C in Abuja. About 1389

mm of precipitation falls annually. Abuja is also known for its typical sub-saharan climate, it

records the highest temperatures during the dry season, between February and March, and the

temperature could be as high as 37 o in the South-West and about 300 in the North-East.

However, the temperatures drops considerably during the rainy season due to dense cloud cover

the major climatic elements, rainfall and tropical sunshine ranges between eight to ten hours a

day in the Northern parts during the raining season. 12

Vegetation

The Federal Capital Territory falls within the Savannah Zone vegetation of the West African

sub-region. Patches of rainforest, however, occur in the Gwagwa plains, especially in the gullied
11
Balogun, A: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development, Ibadan, University
Press,2001, p. 11
12
Balogun, A: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development, Ibadan, University
Press,2001, p.13
train to the south and the rugged south-eastern parts of the territory. These areas of the FCT form

one of the surviving occurrences of mature forest vegetation in Nigeria. The dominant vegetation

of the Territory is, however, classified into three savannah types. Namely; the Park or Grassy

Savannah; this is approximately about 4,231 square km, or 53 percent, of the total area of the

FCT. Vegetation occurs annually and tree species found include; Albizia, Zygia, Butyrospernum

paradoxum, Anniellia, Oliveri and Parkia Clappertoniana.13

The Savannah Woodland; this region covers 1,026 square km, or 12.8 percent, of the

territory. It occurs mostly on the Gurara, Robo and Rubochi plains and surrounding hills.

Common trees found in this region include; afzelia, africana anogeissus, leiocarpus,

butyroscarpus paradoxim, daniella oliveri, khaya senegalensis, prosopis africana, uapaca

togoensis, albizia, zygia, vitex doniant, bombox costatum, and ptrecarpus erinaceus.

The Shrub Savannah: This class of vegetation occurs extensively in rough terrain close to

hills and ridges in all parts of the territory. It covers about 1,031 square km, or 12.9 percent, of

the land area. Tree species found in it include: antiaris africana, anthocleista nobils, ceiba

pentandra, cola gigantean, celtis spp, Chorophora excels (iroko), khaya grandifolia (Benin

Mahogany) terminalia superb (afara), triplochiton scleroxylon, and dracacna arborea. Certain

tree species normally associated with other parts of the rain forest in the south of Nigeria are also

found in some of the forest patches, such as piptadeniatrum africanum (agboin), lophira alata

(ekki), and terminalia ivorensis (idigbo).14

Soil

13
Balogun, A: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development
14
Balogun, A: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development, Ibadan, University
Press,2001, pp 11-22
 Two broad geological regions with similar structural and lithological characteristics are

identified within the Abuja. These regions comprise the pre-cambia basement complex and

sedimentary rocks both of which have very strong influence on the morphological nature of the

local soils. The first one is commonly made up of granites while the second one consists of

quartz and feldspar; the numerous wooded ridges are examples of areas with this category of

rocks. About three local soils have been identified within is Abuja, the first is the alluvial soils

commonly found in the valleys of the main rivers and streams over the Abuja. The soil have well

decomposed organic matter content in the surface layer, the labor of the soils is strongly

modified by mottling, as a result of the poor drainage. The colour changes from grey to darker

grey, width depth.15

The second is Luvisols soil, it is a product of down wash from the hills and develops on

the foot-plains, and this soil is associated with interfluves which are part of the landscape that are

continually being eroded by the streams and by sheet-wash from the hills. The third is the

Entices soils also referred to as skeletal soils because it is rocky and stony. Most of the soils are

developed near the foot of the wooded hills and they are characterized by an abundance of rock

fragments, stones and boulders in the profiles. 16

2.2 Traditions of Origin

Abuja was home to the Gbagyi, Koro, Gade and several other sub-cultural groups of

central Nigeria until the creation of the Federal Capital Territory in 1976 when it became home

15
Balogun, A: The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: A Geography of its development
16
O. Austin and U. Gabriel: “Determination of Dar-zarrouk Parameters for Prediction of Aquifer Protective
Capacity: A Case of Abuja” in Int. Res. J. Geol. Min. 5(1), p.12
for all Nigerians with inalienable rights culturally, politically, socially and otherwise, thereby

becoming the melting pot of Nigerian cultures.17

The commendations of the committee on the location of the federal capital was quite apt

on this matter when it noted that one way of forging the unity of this nation was by building the

capital which will belong to every Nigerian, where every Nigerian will be rest assured that

he/she has an opportunity to live in parity with every other Nigerians, and where no Nigerian

will be regarded either in law or on the facts as a native foreigner.18

The peopling of Abuja had been a spatial feature of cultural diversity which intermingled

with one another. The indigenous tribes were Bassa, Ebira-Koto, Ganagana, Gwandara being the

sub-groups with Gbagyi, Koro and Gade being the major indigenous peoples of Abuja with

regards to their very long history of uninterrupted occupation of the territory. Although the

Hausas and the Fulani’s were found in small numbers at different levels of the settlements, they

were not regarded as the other seven because they were late arrivals and were normally regarded

by others as guests who have made less visible imprints on the cultural landscape of the FCT.19

2.2.1 Traditions and Origin of the Peoples of Abuja (Gbagyi, Koro, Gade)

The Gbagyi’s were the largest indigenous tribe which occupied Abuja after a series of

migrations which started from Bomu where they were subjects of the Koro people under the

Kanuris. An internal struggle with the Kanuris saw to their movement out of Bornu and most of

them went to Kano and settled at Dala Hills while the rest of them spread out to Zaria area. The

ethnic crisis in the 90s caused their migration, they moved out of Kano through Zaria, into the

Abuja area and on arrival in Abuja, they found out that the Koros were already there. This

account was corroborated by Reriman Dutse, who confirmed that their grandfathers had told
17
O. Austin and U. Gabriel: “Determination of Dar-zarrouk Parameters for Prediction of Aquifer Protective
Capacity: A Case of Abuja” in Int. Res. J. Geol. Min. 5(1), p.12
18
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes, Ibadan, University Press, 1969, P.66
19
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes.
them the same story about their origins, that they continued to shift grounds in search of a

peaceful place of abode and that throughout their series of migrations, they were always united

as a group until they got to Zaria where they were scattered with family groups going different

ways. Most of them came to Abuja. By the beginning of the 19th century, the people had left

Kano (Dala Hill) to Kugeni in Minna Division where a chieftaincy conflict caused their

movement to Jere and then to Gujeni before a hunting expedition revealed a better site at Ija

town (in present day Gwarinpa) named after the hunter who discovered the site.20

The Koro were the earliest traceable indigenous people of Abuja and are descendants of

the Kwararala people of Jukun stock that successfully conquered the whole of Hausaland. They

are divided into three sub-groups namely Koro-Ganagana, Koro-Nulu and Koro-Gwandana and

other neighboring tribes helped them to speak their languages. 21 In an oral history, it was that

confirmed the position of the Gbagyi had a long and very close association with the Koro people

and this was due to their involvement in several streams of migrations which had spanned

through centuries. The Koro people moved in different batches arrived at different periods and

their area of settlement determined their designations as either Koro Ganagana, Koro Nulu or

Koro Huntu. This geographical spread of the Koro people in the Abuja lent credence to the

assertion and as rightly posited by Shuabi and Hassan that the Koro of Gwazamu came from

Zaria, the Koro of Wuse came from Likoro near Zaria, as they through Kagarko and proceeded

to Maitama before the arrival of the Gbagyis. Then in about 1798, the Koro of Aso arrived and

settled in Galadima, in that order, the Koro of Kpau, Numbwa and Ija Koro arrived and

dominated several parts of Abuja. Koro Ganagana were the earliest arrivals and settled at Zuma

20
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes, Ibadan, University Press, 1969, P.66
21
Ibid, P.78
rock which they venerated as a symbol for their protection. Koro people regard Zuma rock as a

supernatural being and the spiritual home of their ancestors.22

Gade people dominate the South Eastern part of Abuja and are mostly found in Kuje and

Kwali areas. Some of them are also found at Gwagwalada and Keffi in Nasarawa. The origins of

Gade people were related to two Doma brothers; Kafiti and Kwakwara, both of who were

hunters. According to a historical source, Kwakwara killed a hairless buffalo 'Kuzcizaje' which

was later shortened to 'Kuje' where Kwakwara subsequently established a settlement and became

the first Chief. Kwakwara being a Doma, had known the Dallatun Zaria who collected the

tribute in that district for the Emir and that helped him to speak Hausa properly and boosted

followership in the newly founded settlement. This marked the generation of a tribe which had

grown to become one of the major factors in the peopling of Abuja. 23

2.3 Economic Activities in Pre-Colonial Abuja

The predominant economic activities identified with the indigenous peoples of Abuja

before the advent of colonialism were agriculture and artisan productions of arts, crafts and the

local iron technology for the production of farming tools and implements. Farming, being the

essential way of life of the people, was the best and most honourable productive economic

activity and prior to colonial times, the economic activities of the various ethnic groups was

characterized by the same features.

The indigenous tribes grew food crops like yam, rice, corn and cash crops such as cotton,

ben, benniseed, peppers, soyabeans and groundnuts. 24 While the women used to collect sheanuts

and locust-beans to make oil and bean cakes, the men tapped palm wine and made native drinks

from Guinea corn. All these formed the basis of the local economy. The Gbagyi people adopted
22
S. Joseph: Understanding Gbagyi folktales, Lagos, Oxford Press,1984, P.144
23
Ibid
24
S. Joseph: Understanding Gbagyi folktales, Lagos, Oxford Press,1984, P.78
an economic resources pooling system through communal farming. Under the system, each

household had a communal farm where every member of the family goes to work before going to

their individual farm holdings. This system was extended to their artisan production activities in

which they formed a guild for various artistic productions as identified in traditional textile

productions, pottery, mat weaving, dying of clothes, blacksmithing, and carpentry. As part of

their domestic economic development, the people engaged in domestication of animals, they kept

chickens, turkey, goats, sheep, dogs, doves, horses and cattle fattening.25

Pre-colonial economic activities depended solely on availability of land and all lands

were owned by the community with well-defined boundaries between villages. The village head

had the power to make a grant of land within his boundary for which the beneficiary made

payment with a bundle of guinea corn in the first year. Furthermore, the land so granted was held

in perpetuity by the beneficiary except voluntarily returned to the village head. In the process,

land was acquired for economic uses as farmlands, housing, cattle rearing, and so on.26

Certain factors militated against economic growth among the people of Abuja and one of

such factors was depopulation of the area. The role played by tsetse fly in accounting for the

population and economic growth cannot be ignored. However, there was considerable

controversy as to whether the prevalence of the fly (which disturbed and destroyed animal

production) was a cause or effective of the depopulation. The pre colonial economy suffered

depopulation and instability due to the excessive slave raiding in this area especially in the 19th

century. The better organized groups to the North and South turned the area into an easy hunting

ground for slaves. The indigenous people of Abuja were generally regarded by the Fulani as a

major reservoir from which distant and neighboring emirates could obtain slaves to settle their

25
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes, Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, 1969, p.8
26
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes
fiefs in and outside the FCT. This state of instability never argued well for the socio-economic

development of the people during this period.27

2.4 Political Activities in Pre-Colonial Abuja

The pre-colonial political structure of the peoples of Abuja was fashioned after those of

the Hausa and Nupes from whom they adopted titles. They had a council of elders, called their

chiefs by the Nupe title of Etsu and had title holders like Madawaki, Galadima, Wambai,

Dalhatu, Kuyambana, Makama, Barde and Barwa. Bwari villages were divided into wards and

people in each ward appointed a chief representative to look after the hamlets. In pre-colonial

times, the representatives collected tribute/tax and sent it to the elders who usually met to discuss

affairs of the community. This had been the pre-colonial political system before the Jihad

disrupted the indigenous political development.28

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Habe/Hausa Dynasty from Birnin Zazzau

migrated southwards to the Abuja area, this heightened tensions between the indigenes and

immigrate and by the turn of the 20th century, a very distant feudal lord became a neighbour and

'lie political situation of the area was highly turbulent. The incessant raids for slaves during the

period had highly depopulated the area, forcing many to relocate and this in turn, collapsed the

economy and invariably the political system. Throughout the period, the peoples shared a

common outlook, they lived together as semi- autonomous nationalities until the entrenchment of

British colonialism which politically subordinated them to the suzerainty of Sokoto caliphate as

represented by the Emirates of old Abuja. They maintained individual sense of identity and

independence in the face of a comparatively weak political and economic base which did not

27
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes, Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, 1969, p.6
28
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes
allow them to articulate and aggregate a common goal in response to the reality and demands of

the new FCT in their locality. 29

2.5 Socio-Cultural Activities in Pre-colonial

The peoples of Abuja shared a common socio-cultural outlook, derived from a basic

agricultural tradition before the incursion and consequent conversion to Islam or Christianity.

Being an agricultural based environment, the socio-cultural development was strapped on strict a

traditional belief which was often expressed in festivals and traditional rites as propitiation for

the health of man and the environment. The multi-ethnic politics were indeed independent of one

another but were linked by rituals. Among the pillars of the socio-cultural development of the

people was the Eshan Gunu festival which was usually celebrated among the peoples of Abuja.

The festival of Gunu used to take place in the seventh month of the sowing season, during the

month the people must refrain from quarrelling Or involvement in all mundane activities. At the

end of the month all the people would gather at the festival as the various groups in Abuja

depended on Gunu for blessings and good harvest during the year. A unique spatial feature of

the cultural diversity here was that the various groups lived, intermingled with one another, and

that the high degree of ethnic mix was due to the intense socio-cultural interactions at different

levels that had taken place among the people for over a very long period of time.30

The intense socio-cultural interactions among the peoples of Abuja were often cemented

with inter-marriage. With the Gbagyi people being more populated among the various; their

marriage customs pervaded the territory as it overlapped with the neighboring cultures.

According oral tradition, the pre-colonial marriage customs was very strict, he explained that if a

Gbagyi man was attracted to a Gbagyi girl, he sends local drink to the parents. Acceptance of the

29
U. Shuabi and A. Hassan, Gwari, Gade, Koro Tribes, Ibadan, University Press, 1969, P.78
30
Ibid, p.45
drink was a sign of approval for the relationship. Furthermore, the suitor would work in the in-

laws' farm first for four times each year for four years. In addition to this, the suitor would pay

2000 cowries’ shells, 50 bundles of corn and ten baskets of local rice. Another source added that

in those days, about 50 women and girls would escort the newly married couple to their

residence but now the number of escorts had been reduced to four women.31

CHAPTER THREE

THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPACT OF SMALL MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES

3.1 The Emergence and Development Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

Small scale industry is part and parcel of Nigeria. Evidence abound in our respective

communities of what successes our great grandparents made of their respective trading concerns,
31
Oral interview with Mr Yayah Musa, age 60+, M, Farmer, Sauka Palace, 11/11/2021
yam barns, iron smelting, farming, cottage industries and the likes. So the secret behind their

success of a self reliant strategy does not lie in any particular political philosophy, so much as in

the people’s attitude to enterprise and if the right incentive is adequate enough to make risk

worthy ventures and decisions worth taking. Back home in Nigeria, the respective government

policies accorded and gave priority to the country’s small scale enterprises. This has been in

recognition that they constitute the fountain head of vitality for the National economy, and

consequently their problems have been viewed as those of the nation, by virtue of their number,

diversity, penetration in all sectors of production and marketing contribution to employment and

to the prosperity of the particular areas in which they operate.

In concrete terms, small scale industries constitute a greater percentage of all registered

companies in Nigeria, and they have been in existence for a quite long time. Majority of the

small scale industries developed from cottage industries to small enterprises and from small

scale, to medium and large scale enterprises.32

Pre-Independence Historical Development (before 1960)

Prior to Nigerian Independence, the business climate was almost totally dominated by the

Colonial and other European Multinational companies like United African Company (UAC), GB

Olivant, Lever Brothers Company, Patterson Zechonics, Leventis, and many others. These

companies primarily engaged in bringing into Nigeria finished goods from their parent

companies overseas. These companies have vast business experience and strong capital base, and

dominated the Nigerian economy. The government of those days encouraged them to become

stronger by giving incentives as favorable traffis and tax concessions. Towards the tail end of the

1950s, the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) was established to assist potential

32
D. Ayozie and F. Umukoro: Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMES) in Global Journal of Management and
Business Research Marketing, Volume 13 , 2013, Pp.16-17
entrepreneurs to get involved in Agriculture, exploration of natural resources, Commerce and

Industrial production. That period and the early 1960s saw the massive increase in import into

the Nigerian market, while the Nigerian economy became largely dominated by very few large

foreign firms.33

Post Independence (1965-1976)

A major/remarkable breakthrough in small scale business came about through the

indigenization Decree of 1972 and later in Nigeria Enterprises Promotion Act of 1977. These

were genuine attempts by the Federal Government to make sure that Nigerians play an active and

worthwhile role in the development of the economy. In i1970-74 National Development Plan,

the Federal Government gave special attention to the development of small scale industries

particularly in rural areas. This was in recognition of the roles of small and medium scale

industries, as the seedbeds and training grounds for entrepreneurship. The cardinal point of the

1970 – 1974 development plans was;

* Accelerating the pace of industrialization and dispersal of industries

* Generating substantial employment opportunities.

* Promoting individual initiatives and entrepreneurship among the populace

* Assisting in the established of small scale industries, Developing and increasing export

trader, and

* Complementing large scale industries

1977 - 1989

Within this period, the government policy measures placed emphasis on the technological

aspects of industrial development of small scale industries in Nigeria. Various tiers of

33
D. Ayozie and F. Umukoro: Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMES) in Global Journal of Management and
Business Research Marketing, Volume 13 , 2013, P.17
government within this decade embarked on corrective measures to divert efforts towards the

maximum exploitation of natural resources, and tried to discourage capital intensive mode of

production in the light of the abundant resources available. In this regards, the industrial policy

tried to focus its attention mainly on local resources utilization through various forms of

incentives worked out by governments. Some of the basic policy strategy aimed at revitalizing

the industrial sector included the following Encouragement in the use of more local materials

in the industrial development activities. Encourage greater capacity utilization in Nigerian

industries.

1990 and Beyond

The federal and state government have both contributed to the growth of small scale

industries in Nigeria especially in the rural areas. In recent times, various fiscal and non-fiscal

incentives have been established for investors and entrepreneurs in the small scale sectors of the

economy. Of special mentioning was the strategy adopted by the federal government towards the

training and motivation of the unemployed graduates, to be gainfully employed after graduation,

referred to as the entrepreneurship development programmes. To show its seriousness, the

Federal Government through its educational agencies like the National Board for Technical

Education (NBTE), the Nigerian University Commission (NUC), and the National Youths

Service Corps (NYSC) programme give a directive that entrepreneurship development courses

and programmes be incorporated into the curricular of tertiary institutions and in the NYSC

programmes.34

3.2 The Political Impact of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Bwari Area Council,

Abuja

34
S.I Owualah, “Tackling Youth Unemployment Through Entrepreneurship”, International Small Business Journal,
Vol. 17, No. 3, April-June, 1999, Pp. 49-57.
 Over the years, the federal government has discovered SMEs as the cradle for

industrialization and a prerequisite for rapid economic growth and self reliance. As a result, the

government enunciated a number of policies and programmes/incentive that would create a

conducive environment for the development and promotion SMEs in Bwari Area Council, Abuja

and Nigeria as whole. The government for instance, enunciated a number of financial policies

through national development plans and budgets as well as through its agencies to fund and

provide necessary extension service to SMEs. The purpose of the government financial policy

thrust is to ensure adequate financing of SMEs through loans or equity participation and to

provide fiscal incentives designed to aid their growth and rapid development. Among these

policies/programmes is the small industries credit committee (SCC) set up to administer to the

country between 1975 and 1980, the establishment of the Nigerian bank for commerce and

industry (NBCI) in 1973 to provide financial services to small scale businesses, the

establishment of national directorate of employment (NDE) in 1986 to promote the development

of small scale enterprises. Other agencies which includes the Directorate of Food, Road, and

Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI), Better Life for Rural Dwellers, Peoples Banks, Community

Banks, New Micro Finance Banks (MFB), Working for Yourself Programme, the Centre for

Management Development was established to enhance the growth and development of SMEs.

However, the performance of the small scale industries credit scheme (SCC) was unfortunately

rather poor in the sense that many unviable projects were funded.

Nevertheless, the Nigerian bank for commerce and industry (NBCI) loans and equity

investment in small business continued to be of immense help in the development of SMEs in the

country. The activities of the national directorate of employment resulted to the creation of over

148,000 new jobs which were directly created through the founding and setting up of small scale
enterprises. In addition, the National economy recovery fund (VERFUND) was established to

promote SMEs by providing medium to long term loans (5-10years) to those in Agro-Allied

industries, industrial support services mining, quarrying, equipment leasing and other ancillary

projects. The federal government provided N190 million while CBN contributed N100 million.

African development bank contributed the remaining counterpart fund.

In addition, the formation of small and medium scale industries apex unit within the

Central Bank to assist in the disbursement of World Bank $270 million loan to small scale

entrepreneurs and the latest official concern by the federal governments towards encouraging the

creation of small scale industries has been encouraging. Therefore, attempt to console the effects

of poverty and unemployment in the country, further led to the establishment of Poverty

Alleviation Program (PAP), Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), National Economic

Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) at federal level, State Economic

Empowerment and Development Strategy (SEEDS) at state level and Local Economic

Empowerment and Development Strategy (LEEDS) at local government level.35

3.3 The Social Impact of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Bwari Area Council,

Abuja

Undeniably, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises has greatly fulfilled all her

responsibilities in Bwari Area Council, Abuja. Small scale industries generate employment for a

lot of people in Bwari Area Council, Abuja. A lot of unemployed people and youths have found

employment in small scale industries. A lot of small retail shops, cottages, restaurants, poultry

farms, and telecommunication/telephone shops have been established and managed profitably by

people who would have been unemployed till date. The entrepreneurs have in turn provided jobs

35
S.I Owualah, “Tackling Youth Unemployment Through Entrepreneurship”, International Small Business Journal,
Vol. 17, No. 3, April-June, 1999, Pp. 49-50.
for numerous people in Bwari Area Council who serves as technical and administrative staffs for

them. It has encouraged self employment for many youths in different locations.The spirit of

successful entrepreneurship has taken over the mind of people of Bwari Area Council, who

believe in themselves and in the goal of self employment, instead relying on government jobs.

In the telephone retail and rental in Bwari Area Council, a lot of youths have remained

self employed. Their businesses have expanded to the level of employing some other

unemployed people. Through the establishment of manpower development support schemes, and

their involvement in the training and retraining of entrepreneurs, small scale industries have

provided a pool of potential entrepreneurs and business people who are well equipped to start

and successfully manage industries in Bwari Area Council. Not only that, Small scale industries

in Bwari Area Council have also stimulated development and the achievement of a meaningful

level of broad economic development in the area such as the provision of access road, increased

improvement in communication facilities like telephone, postal services and the internet

facilities, construction of industrial layouts and estates, and the provision of electricity and water

expansion schemes. It has also uplifted the dignity of labour. There is the spirit of “ME TOO”,

can do it attitude.

In Bwari Area Council, people deriving joy in working for themselves and seeing their

businesses grow and mature to conglomerates and deriving joy in being a source of employment

to other people. It has upgraded the social status of Bwari youths, by showcasing them as very

successful entrepreneurs and operators of small scale industries. 36

3.4 The Economic impact of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Bwari Area Council,

Abuja
36
Oral interview with Mr Akinbode Salam, age 60+, Layout Road, Abuja, Retired Civil Servant, 09/11/2021
 Small and Medium scale industries have a lot of important contributions to make to the

economic development of Bwari Area Council in Abuja. These can be seen in the provision of

employment amongst the youth, creativity marketing for goods and services which are offered

for sales. A lot of youths, retired workers and out of school graduates, are now gainfully

employed, thereby reducing the unemployment rate, and its attendants social complication of

armed robbery and white collar crimes. It helps to bring about new goods and services and

supply the needs of large industries, who have to rely on the small scale operators for business

success. It satisfies the convenience of consumers at any given time, with the availability of

products.

Beyond this, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise promote the development of indigenous

manpower in Bwari Area Council as well as increasing local participation in the manufacturing

sector. The activities of small business in Bwari Area Council have resulted in the mobilization

of the resources of the environment and thereby improving on the standard of living of the

population. It also contribute to the development of the labour market by absorbing an ever

growing supply of goods, services and labour. In doing this, they have sufficiently helped to

curtail the rising unemployment in Bwari Area Council. SMEs have accounted for a large

percentage of all businesses and a favourable percentage of the Bwari Area Council’s gross

national product. This fact is more relevant in the developed countries of Great Britain, United

State where a proper accounting system is kept. Other noticeable impacts are its contribution to

the development of indigenous entrepreneurship. Mention is being made of the Dantatas,

Fajemirokuns, Igbinedions, Ekene Dili Chukwus, Ilodibes, Dankabos, Dangotes, Adenuga and

the Amazuss of Nigeria. These are successful entrepreneurs. Its contribution to the mobilization

of domestic savings and utilization of local resources is also a noticeable factor. They serve as
good agent for the disposal of industrial products and some services, and have contributed

immensely to the production of raw materials in the form of semi-processed goods for use by

bigger industries. It is a base for the development of appropriate technology and provides a

veritable ground for skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled workers. It has provided productive self-

employment to a number of educated and less educated young men and women coming out of

schools, colleges, polytechnic, and universities.

The role of SMEs in the accelerated industrial development, by enlarging the supply of

entrepreneurs and the enlarging of small and medium enterprise sector, which offers better

potential for employment generation and wider dispersal of industrial ownership. It has assisted

in improving the performance of small industries by enlarging the supply of carefully selected,

trained and well rounded entrepreneurs, and diversifying sources of entrepreneurship and

business ownership.. Entrepreneur organizes, and utilizes the various factors of production and

finally sets productive machinery in action towards overall economic development.

Consequently, the availability of the small scale industry is therefore the undisputed precondition

for economic growth in Bwari Area Council.37

CHAPTER FOUR

THE CHALLENGES OF SMALL MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN BWARI AREA

COUNCIL, ABUJA

4.1 The Political Challenges of small and medium scale enterprises in Bwari Area Council,

Abuja

37
Oral interview with Mr Bala Hammed, age 70+, Layout Road, Abuja, Retired Civil Servant, 09/11/2021
 The Nigerian Government made has made substantial effort on the development of small

scale industries in Bwari Area Council and the county at large; nevertheless, part of the huge

SMEs problems could be traced to the government. This is mostly in the area of improper

implementation of its policies towards SMEs and a serious neglect in the area of incentive and

infrastructural development to facilitate business activities of SMEs. Government policies seem

to have constituted a serious problem area for SMEs. The beginning of harsh government

policies toward SMEs can be traced back to 1982 with the introduction of “stabilization

measures” which resulted in import controls and drastic budget cuts. These, in turn, adversely

affected the subvention to the financial institutions established to provide financial assistance to

the SMEs. For example, in 1983, out of a total of 8,380 applications for loans received from the

SMEs for a total of 46.66 million naira was disbursing. As the economic situation deteriorated,

the government introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986. 38

Since the strategy of liberalization and deregulation of interest rates was implemented,

interest rates have continued to increase. The SMEs, which prior to the SAP had been granted

concessionary rates of interest (particularly for agricultural and housing loans), experienced great

difficulties obtaining credit of a Stabilization Securities Account (SSA) whereby the banks were

debited with liquidity in their accounts with the Central Bank. The frequent changes, and

sometimes conflicting government monetary policies, have also tended to hurt the SMEs. For

example, while the government increased total credit allocation to SMEs from 16 to 20 per cent,

the same government removed excess liquidity in the banking industry through increase in the

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR), transfer of government and parastatals accounts to the

Central Bank and the creation of Stabilization Security Account (SSA) whereby the banks were

debited with excess liquidity in their accounts with central bank.

38
Oral interview with Mr Abubarkar Mohammed, age 50+, Layout Road, Abuja, Civil Servant, 09/11/2021
 Another shortfall of government is the misappropriation of funds and wrong allocation of

credit facilities. This plan to provide, modest loan to small scale business operations was a flop,

because loans were granted in most cases on political rather than on commercial or project

viability considerations. What was supposed to be revolving fund designed to benefit so many

SMEs owners ended up as a bonanza for a few and it become virtually impossible to recover

most of the loans. Not only that, another factor is the government improper implementation of

its policies. Its inability to recruit trained manpower and adequate equipments to aid the

extension services it put in place to support the SMEs. The development centers were not

endowed with adequate manpower to carry out technical appraisal of applications for loans from

surging applicants. In the same vein, an empirical study on the analysis of the impact of

government policies on SMEs (entrepreneurial development) noted that government policy

programs on SMEs are concentrated in the cities where there is strict competition between the

SMEs products and large scale business.

In spite of these identified enormous challenges confronting SMEs in Bwari Area

Council, they still continued to strive at their very best and their existence is the key to national

economic development. The inability of government to execute favorable fiscal policies and

policies inconsistencies has undermined the capacity of small and medium scale enterprises.

Inconsistencies in government policies is a major problem affecting small and medium scale

enterprises and factored in the problem to inappropriate time or delay in budget implementation

as factor constraining investment and trade decision. In most cases the process of approving

budget at the legislative level is usually delay due to executive and legislative face-off most time

and even when the budget is approved the executive implementation of such is also very slow

due to administrative bottlenecks. Thus, delaying investment decision of small and medium scale
enterprises, particularly on tariff and taxes measures in their trade decisions. Factors such as this

have made the investment environment to be unpredictable and uncertain for small and medium

scale enterprises. In some cases, high incidence of government regulatory agencies, taxes and

levies by different levels of government have resulted into high cost of running SMEs and

entrepreneurs are seems not to be motivated by this factors.39

4.2 The Social Challenges of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Bwari Area Council,

Abuja

About 80% of Small and medium entreprises are stifled because of poor financing and

other associated problems. The problem of financing SMEs is not so much the sources of funds

but its accessibility. Factors identified inhibiting funds accessibility are the stringent conditions

set by financial institutions, lack of adequate collateral and credit information and cost of

accessing funds. It is believed that the capital shortage problem in the small firm sector is partly

one, which stems for the uneconomic deployment of available resources by the owner-managers.

Businessmen take loan for expansion projects only to turnaround to marry new wives, acquire

chieftaincy titles or buy houses abroad.

Beyond this, lack of trained manpower and management skills also constitute a major

challenge to the survival of SMEs in Nigeria. 90% of all these business failures result from lack

of experience and competence. The inefficiency in overall business management and poor

record keeping is also a major feature of most SMEs; technical problems/competence and lack of

essential and required expertise in production, procurement, maintenance, marketing and

finances have always led to funds misapplication, wrong and costly decision making.

Most Nigerian Entrepreneurs do not have the investment culture of ploughing back

profits. The attitude of a typical Nigerian entrepreneur is to invest today and reap tomorrow.
39
Oral interview with Mr Bello Aliyu, age 50+, Layout Road, Abuja, Civil Servant, 09/11/2021
Also, the socio-political ambitions of some entrepreneurs may lead to the diversion of valuable

funds and energy from business to social waste. The problem of bias against made in Nigeria

goods is significant. Most Nigerians have developed a high propensity for the consumption of

foreign goods as against their locally made substitutes.40

4.3 The Economic Challenges of small and medium scale enterprises in Bwari Area

Council, Abuja

In Bwari Area Council, market stores are dominated by absentee landlords who charge

exorbitant rates. The ownership of market stores by politicians is crowding real small-scale

operators out of the market. The high rents charged by store owners on good locations have

forced real small-scale operators into the streets or at best into accessible places . Also, domestic

economic problems of deregulation and removal of protection as well as the global financial

crisis have been detrimental to SMEs. This has become a major problem especially given the role

of tax consultants and agents hired by local governments. They are often crude in their operation,

excessive in their assessment and destructive in their relationship with the production process.

They tax everything in their bid to generate revenue without considering the net effect to

household incomes and employment.

Beyond this, the interest rate is another prominent aspect of economic policy that depends

largely on the Small and Medium Scale Enter. In Bwari Area Council, this responsibility is

overseen by the Monetary Policy Committee, which has monthly meeting with the primary

objective of determining the exact level of interest to adopt in the country’s economy.

Unarguably, whatever decision they take will be felt instantly by entrepreneurs that operate in

Bwari Area Council and the country. For example, any increment of interest rates will result to a

complementary rise in the costs of doing business. It can also have considerable negative impacts
40
Oral interview with Mrs Bala Rabiatu , age 50+, Layout Road, Abuja, Civil Servant, 09/11/2021
on the consumers’ purchasing power, thereby triggering massive fall in the volume of business

sales. The government’s spending policy is another factor that can have significant impact on

business operations.

Generally, increased governmental spending on a specific sector will ultimately trigger

more business activities in such sector, as enterprises that supply inputs in such sector will

experience a substantial increase in their income. Furthermore, the provision of subsidies for

some business activity can also trigger more economic activity in a given sector. Typical

examples include introduction of tax holiday, provision of petroleum subsidy, removal of excise

duties etc.41

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary

The research work has extremely discussed the impact of small and medium scale

enterprises to development of Bwari Area Council, Abuja from 1976 - 2019. Chapter one started

with a comprehensive knowledge and a wide accepted definition of small and medium scale

41
Oral interview with Mrs Hammed Aisha , age 50+, Layout Road, Abuja, Civil Servant 09/11/2021
enterprise. Within this line, the study also differentiates examines the importance of small and

medium scale and its roles to the host society.

The chapter also states the statement of problem, aim and objectives, scope and limitation

of the study and the significance of the research work. Furthermore, relevant literatures were

reviewed and the sources of information were given as well.

Chapter two examines the establishment and growth of Abuja. Such include; the

geographical location and environment features of Bwari town, factor that led to the

establishment of Bwari town, political structure and development, socio-cultural activities of the

people of Bwari and their early socio-economic organization and development

Chapter three emphasized on the establishment and development of small and medium

scale. In this chapter, the study reveals the origin and development of small and medium scale,

political impact of small and medium scale, social impact of small and medium scale enterprise

as well as the economic impact of small and medium scale enterprises in Bwari Area Council,

Abuja were vigilantly discussed.

Chapter four centered on the challenges of of small and medium scale enterprises in

Bwari Area Council, Abuja. This explains various challenges such as social challenges,

economic challenges, political challenges.

5.2 Conclusion

The study reveals that the geographical location and the physical features of Bwari Area

Council in Abuja indicate its favorability for faming and other activities. Early history of Abuja

and the social political organization also shows that they are indeed; share the same cultural and

political structure as other neighboring communities. Beyond this, this study on Bwari Area

Council also shows an evolution of a growing society like many communities in the central part.
There is no doubt; life in Bwari Area Council is effortless and interesting as a result of Small and

Medium Scale Enterprise in this area. The area has drastically transformed from a small village

to city. The community had also expanded into a town status with halls, hospitals, police

stations, banks, pipe borne water and tarred roads. Furthermore, Small and Medium Scale

Enterprise played some unique role in the development of Bwari Area Council. These can be

seen in the area of economy, social, political and general transformation.