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Article Title:
ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENUERS BY MANAGERS OF SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN ANAMBRA AND ENUGU STATES, NIGERIA
by Ezenwafor, Justina I., and Okoli, Constance I.

Abstract:
This study seeks to determine the personal characteristics that are important for entrepreneurs to become successful as a guide to practicing and prospective entrepreneurs. One research question and three null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance are used for the study. The descriptive survey research design is adopted and the study area is Anambra and Enugu states of Nigeria. Population and sample of the study consists of 149 managers of viable SMEs in the area comprising males and females of different educational attainments and working experience. A validated questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.87 was used for data collection. Mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA were used for data analysis to answer the research questions and test the hypotheses. Results show that the respondents assessed the twelve listed personal characteristics as highly important for successful entrepreneurship. Gender, educational attainment and experience have significant effect on the opinions of the respondents. The researchers conclude that all entrepreneurs highly need the important personal characteristics to become successful and recommend, among others, that government should create awareness of the important personal characteristics among entrepreneurs and that tertiary institutions should highlight them in their entrepreneurship education curricula.

Keywords: assessment, personal characteristics, entrepreneurs, managers, SMEs.

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