Survival Strategies of Small Business Enterprises In An Ailing Economy: A Study of the Furniture Industry

Abstract

Prior to the colonization of Nigeria by the British, men and women In this country engaged in several small scale activities directed at achieving self sufficiency. During the colonization years, this structure of production on small scale did not bring change since the colonial masters were not interested in expanding production level s .All they were interested in was to buy cheaply that which was produced and send back to their home country. In the post-colonial era in Nigeria, especially during the Oil boom era, the government (both Federal and State) attempted to industrialize them. Nation by the establishment of large firms. The small scale business was somewhat overlooked by the government but was kept alive by individual efforts. Soon, the huge financial investment government made in the big firms failed to produce either efficient goods and or services or any appreciable financial returns to government. The government was indeed expected to continue giving them subventions to keep them alive