Abstract

This study examined the impact of women-owned micro-scale enterprise operations on poverty reduction in Niger State, Nigeria. Adopting a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, primary data were collected from 195 women entrepreneurs selected from major commercial areas across three Local Government Areas using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were employed via SPSS Version 25. Findings reveal that micro-scale enterprise participation significantly improved women's income levels and enhanced their access to healthcare, education, and housing (p < 0.05). Educational attainment, access to microcredit, and enterprise experience emerged as statistically significant determinants of poverty reduction outcomes. The study concludes that women-owned micro-scale enterprises constitute a critical, context-specific instrument for addressing multidimensional poverty among women in Niger State. Policy recommendations include strengthening microcredit facilities, expanding entrepreneurship training, improving rural infrastructure, and institutionalising gender-sensitive economic policies