Small-scale ceramic enterprises in South-Western Nigeria

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the demography of the producers of ceramic wares as it affects the production and profitability of the venture. To identify and rank other factors affecting the sustenance of ceramic enterprises through the data collected from ceramic manufacturers in the study area. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is a survey research. Data are collected from ceramic ware producers through structured questionnaires and open-ended oral interview. The analysis involves the use of descriptive statistics in the discussion of the research variables. Findings - The spatial distribution of the industries as well as the performance are determined by different factors. Gender lopsidedness is observed among ceramic wares producers. Time commitment to production by manufacturers is not good enough for profitability of the venture. The production and the management systems of small-scale ceramic industries in South-Western Nigeria are hindered by many other factors. Practical implications - The analysis of the demography of the practicing ceramists helps to determine how factors like gender, geographical location, and education attainment have influenced small-scale ceramic production. The knowledge of the severity of factors militating against ceramic production helps in bringing about strategies that can alleviate the problems. Originality/value - The factors that are responsible for the waning state of small-scale ceramic industries in South-Western Nigeria are identified and ranked in terms of their severity; the paper offers possible solutions that could change the situation.