Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship Development in South East Nigeria
Abstract
Despite the growing awareness of artificial intelligence (AI)'s potential, many local entrepreneurs face challenges in adopting and implementing AI technologies. The rate of firms’ adoption of AI technologies in South East Nigeria particularly is poor. Limited access to advanced AI tools, gaps in technical expertise, and weak infrastructure often limit how effectively businesses can adopt and use artificial intelligence. These constraints make it difficult for many firms to move beyond basic applications, reducing their ability to improve performance or pursue innovation. In response, this study examined how AI influences entrepreneurship development in South East Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design and collected data through structured questionnaires distributed to 347 respondents drawn from a population of 2,619 staff across six selected manufacturing firms in the region. Primary data were obtained from managers, IT staff, and accountants. The hypotheses were tested using Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation and multiple linear regression were used in testing the hypotheses. Findings revealed that: robotic automation has a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurial growth in South East Nigeria (rho = 0.246; p = 0.000); machine learning has a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurial growth in South East Nigeria (rho = 0.496; p = 0.000); Internet of Things has a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurial growth in South East Nigeria (rho = 0.279; p = 0.000); AI virtual assistant has a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurial growth in South East Nigeria (rho = 0.336; p = 0.000). The study concluded that adopting AI-driven technologies fosters entrepreneurship development in South East Nigeria by strengthening firms’ operational performance, strategic decision-making, and long-term sustainability. Therefore, it was recommended that business owners and production managers should adopt more robotic automation tools within their operations to enhance precision, reduce production time, and minimize human errors.
Keywords
Artificial IntelligenceEntrepreneurship DevelopmentRobotic AutomationEntrepreneurial GrowthMachine LearningInternet of Things; Business Sustainability
References
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