FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN LAGOS STATE: A DUAL LENS ON ENTRY MODES AND LEADERSHIP STYLES

Abstract

This study critically examined the modes of entry and leadership styles among female entrepreneurs in Lagos State, Nigeria, with a view to interrogating the socio-cultural and strategic dimensions of women’s participation in entrepreneurship. The study employed a mixed methods research design, combining survey data from 1,200 female entrepreneurs across six Local Government Areas and five trade associations with in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. This approach facilitated a comprehensive analysis of naturally occurring variables through both descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as thematic content analysis. Findings indicated that most women entered entrepreneurship via apprenticeship and skill-based learning, with fewer respondents identifying with emergent or accidental modes of entry. Moreover, participants favoured participative and transformational leadership styles, exhibiting high levels of collective decision-making, strategic communication, and interpersonal competence, despite limited self-identification as leaders. These insights challenge essentialist narratives that conflate female entrepreneurship with necessity and highlight the value of contextually grounded, gender-sensitive frameworks in entrepreneurial discourse. The study concludes by offering targeted recommendations for rethinking entrepreneurial education, leadership development, and policy design in support of female-led enterprises in emerging economies.