The Role of Entrepreneurship on Job Creation in Gashua, Bade Local Government, Yobe State

This study examined the role of entrepreneurship on job creation in Gashua, Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria, with specific focus on the effect of entrepreneurial activities, the influence of entrepreneurial growth, and the impact of entrepreneurial challenges on employment generation. Anchored on Schumpeter's Innovation Theory, the study employed a descriptive survey design with a population of 1,850 small business operators across five sectors (trading, artisanship, food vending, agriculture, and services). Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample of 329 respondents was drawn through multi-stage sampling, and data were collected via a structured validated questionnaire, yielding 312 valid responses (94.8% response rate). Describe the measurement of each independent variable (e.g., Likert-scale items aggregated into categories) and state the exact variables entered into each Chi-square test, including degrees of freedom where possible., Findings revealed that entrepreneurial activities significantly affect job creation (χ² = 152.32, p < 0.05), entrepreneurial growth significantly influences job creation (χ² = 141.34, p < 0.05), and entrepreneurial challenges particularly inadequate access to finance (87.2%) and insecurity (87.2%) significantly hinder job creation (χ² = 172.52, p < 0.05). The demographic analysis indicated that the majority of respondents were male, aged 26-35 years, with secondary education, and primarily engaged in trading businesses with 1-5 years of experience. The study concluded that while entrepreneurship constitutes a critical mechanism for employment generation in Gashua, its potential is substantially constrained by financial, security, and infrastructural deficits. The study recommended establishing targeted microfinance schemes, strengthening community security frameworks, harmonizing taxation for small businesses, creating community-based entrepreneurship development centres, and facilitating business growth through market linkages and business development services.