Abstract
There is a growing interest to understand the role of tree nursery enterprises in Nigeria and the horn of Africa. Tree nursery enterprises, which are vital economic activities in major cities of Nigeria and particularly in the city of Lagos are not adequately studied and well documented. Therefore, this study seeks to fill a gap in understanding the socioeconomic importance and profitability potential of tree nursery enterprises. Multistage sampling technique with a 3-stage design was adopted in this study using aquantitative data collection techniques through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 120 nursery entrepreneurs. Data were analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and budgetary analysis. The result revealed that tree nursery entrepreneurs are literate, mostly male in their youthful age. Furthermore, the total annual revenue earned by the respondents was ₦1,712,222.22 with a mean annual net income of ₦1,458,038.72 while the return per naira invested was ₦5.71. This shows that tree nursery enterprise is profitable in the study area. However, most entrepreneurs were faced with shortage of land for establishments of tree nursery in the study area. Therefore, appropriate actions in reducing cost of land lease/purchase are recommended to encourage new entrepreneurs and strengthen the sector’s development.
 Keywords: Entrepreneur, Environment, Nursery enterprises, Profitability, Socio-economic and Tree seedlings.
Highlights
In Nigeria, people are gradually becoming aware of the need for a beautiful, manageable and sustainable environment
This has accounted for the recent increase in attention and patronage that the ornamental tree nursery enterprises have observed in Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole (Bota, 2008)
The high involvement of male in tree nursery enterprise suggests that the business is not popular among the women in the study area.Larinde and Santus (2014) made similar observation in their study, male (78.9%) and female (21.1%), Adeduntan (2015) observed male (86%) and female (14%), Fakayodeet al. (2008) recorded male (85.2%) and female (14.8% ), Abegundeet al. (2009) recorded male (93.7%) and female (6.3%) while Khaguli (2007) observed men (87%) and (13%). This may be due to the fact that most of the operations performed in the nurseries are tedious and assumed to be men’s work.The dominant age range among nursery entrepreneurs in the study area was between 30 and 39 years representing 36.7%
Summary
In Nigeria, people are gradually becoming aware of the need for a beautiful, manageable and sustainable environment. A major feature of the urban landscape is the establishment of tree nurseries, springing up mainly along major roads and highways, abandoned lands, along streets, foot paths and even in private homes This has created viable employment opportunities and means of livelihood for quite a number people improving the national economy (Asiedu, et al, 2012).A tree nursery is a well-managed site, designed to produce seedlings grown under favorable conditions until they are ready for planting out in the field (Dedefoet al., 2017). Urbanization is a global phenomenon which is currently sweeping through developing countries like a wild fire Many of such growing urban areas are in recent times are confronted with serious environmental challenges the need for tree planting in those areas is paramount. This study was conducted to examine the socio-economic importance of tree seedlings in nursery enterprises in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria
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