RESILIENCE AND EMPOWERMENT NARRATIVES OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN IPETU-IJESHA.

This paper explored the resilience and empowerment narratives of women entrepreneurs in small-scale businesses in Ipetu-Ijesha, a southwest community in Nigeria with a view to examine the strength and determination exhibited by these women as they confront various challenges while striving for a better future.An in-depth qualitative interviews were used through semi-structured interviews on women who have thrived in the same business for over 15 yearsand content analysis was used to analyse the interviews. The findings revealed that the participants' perceptions of empowerment varied, encompassing financial independence, stability, freedom, and the ability to make choices for oneself. Each woman's journey towards empowerment was unique, involving the negotiation of societal norms, surmounting barriers, and confronting systemic inequalities and access to emotional support was identified as a crucial element in their empowerment journey. These women, as agents of change, shaped their destinies, overcame adversity, and contributed to the betterment of their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]