55 Influence of Entrepreneurial Activities of Small Scale Enterprises and Economic Development of Rural Communities in Rivers State GEORGEWILL, Tamunotonye Anita & Prof. AKPOMI, Margaret Department of Business Education, Faculty of Education, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt Corresponding Author’s Email Address: tams4luv2007@yahoo.com ABSTRACT The study examined the influence of entrepreneurial activities of small scale enterprises and economic development in rural communities in Rivers State. Four research questions were raised for the study and four null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted correlational research design. The target population of the study was 331 small scale enterprises in nine (9) selected Local Government Areas in the three (3) Senatorial Districts in Rivers State. The sample size was 169 respondents (88 fashion designers and 81 fish farmers) in the 9 selected Local Government Areas in the 3 Senatorial Districts in Rivers State. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of the study. The instrument for data collection was a self- structured questionnaire titled: “Influence of Entrepreneurial Activities of Small Scale Enterprises on Economic Development in Rural Communities in Rivers State”. The face and content validity of the instrument was ascertained by two experts in Business Education and Measurement and Evaluation in the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Test-rest method was used to establish the reliability of the instrument which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.87. Data collected were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation for research questions, while null hypotheses were tested using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the study revealed that entrepreneurial activities of small scale enterprises influence economic development in rural communities in Rivers State to a high extent. The study therefore, recommended among others that: there should be increased support by the State and Local Government Areas for all entrepreneurial activities in the rural communities in Rivers State, and that capital should be made available to small scale enterprises by the State and Local Government, as well as financial institutions for business expansion. Keywords: Influence, Entrepreneurial, Small Scale Enterprises, Economic Development. INTRODUCTION Job creation is one of the fundamental objectives of every government but sadly, Nigeria has not been able to keep up with this responsibility, hence, it is bedeviled with high unemployment rate, which has become worrisome to government and other stakeholders. Obviously, the government has not been able to create jobs in preparing the Nigerian economy to achieve full employment, economic growth and development (Bogoro, 2015), in spite of the numerous businesses and investment potentials due to the abundant human and natural resources. This is why Nigeria continues to experience its share of social, economic and political disturbances which have stunted her economic development (Onwubiko, 2011). International Journal of Innovative Development and Policy Studies 9(3):55-67, July-Sept., 2021 © SEAHI PUBLICATIONS, 2021 www.seahipaj.org ISSN: 2467- 8465