Sustainable Entrepreneurship and National Development in Nigeria (2000-2017)

The study examined the effect of sustainable entrepreneurship on national development in Nigeria
covering a period between 2000 to 2017. The modelled was specified measuring the dependent
variable by the human development index while sustainable entrepreneurship was measured by small
and medium growth (SMSG), small and medium scale financing by commercial banks (SMEFC) small
and medium scale enterprises financing by micro-financing banks (SMEFM) while inflation was
employed as a control variable. Relying on secondary data sourced from CBN statistical bulletin and
United National Development Programme reports of several editions, the study employed as an
estimation technique. It was revealed that, there exists a long-run relationship between the variables
employed. Further findings showed that SMEGR and SMEFC have an insignificant positive impact on
national development while SMEFM and INF have a significant negative impact on national
development within the year of review. It was concluded that, entrepreneurship is a veritable tool for
achieving national development. The study recommends that the government should help in reenforcing
the mandatory minimum credit allocation by banks to SMEs i.e 10% of annual profit in the
Annual Monetary Policy Circular and Guidelines and policies that will motivate commercial and more
importantly, micro-financing banks, to offer more credit facilities to SMEs should be formulated to
enhance national development in Nigeria.