Abstract:
The article provides beneficiary perceptions on the effectiveness of the National
Directorate of Employment policy on selected agro-chemical small and medium
enterprises in Akure, Nigeria. This is against the backdrop that small and medium
business development play important roles but such roles are even more significant in
a developing country’s economic transformation. With poverty and unemployment
at unacceptable levels and currently a big challenge to the government of Nigeria,
questions must be asked about current initiatives, so that lessons can be harnessed
to better position future programmes that generate employment through activities
of Small and Medium Enterprises. Thus, this article focuses on the National
Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme, with its main objective aimed at
catering for unemployed youth across the country. Within the NDE programme, the
researchers selected the agro–chemical sector in Akure, Ondo State, with a view
of understanding beneficiaries’ insights on SME development and its sustainability
in the NDE. The study comprised of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative
approach) using both primary and secondary data. Empirical data was presented,
analysed and recommendations drawn for future programmes.
