Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and Employment Generation in Taraba State Central Zone, Nigeria

Evidence around the world indicate that SMEs provide an effective means of stimulating indigenous entrepreneurship, enhancing greater employment opportunities per unit of capital invested and aiding in development. To better understand the nexus, the study investigates small and medium scale enterprises (SMES) and employment generation in Taraba State central zone. Survey research design was used; the population of the study was 780. Using Yamane's (1967) technique, 264 respondents were selected and served with questionnaires which were all duly completed and retrieved, representing 100%. Data was presented in tables using frequency distributions, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations to illustrate patterns in the opinions of respondents. It was concluded that high interest rates, high taxation, low innovation capacity, cyber security threats, high utility costs and inadequate infrastructure are the basic challenges that hinder against SMEs. Thus, the study recommended that financial institutions through central bank of Nigeria (CBN) directives should provide loans to small and medium scale enterprise operators with ease devoid of bureaucratic process for the operation of their businesses