Abstract
This paper examined factors influencing black soap (ncha-nkota) enterprise in Abia state. Specifically, it determined human skills-related, economic and marketing factors influencing growth of black soap enterprise in the area of the study. It was a survey. Population was made up of women involved in black soap enterprise in the area. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analysed using frequency counts, and percentages. Findings include eight human skill-related factors, including that black soap processing involves intensive labour (X̅ = 4.0), lack of extension services affects scales of production (X̅ = 3.9), poor educational level of producers affects the finished product (X̅ =3.9), there is low level of skill acquisition in the sector (X̅ = 3.4), black soap production exposes women to poor health condition (X̅ = 3.7), and others. Other findings include 11 economic factors. These include; high cost of raw materials (X̅ = 3.8), lack of collateral to access bank loans (X̅ = 3.9), difficult access firewood, ash and water (X̅ = 3.9), and others. Further findings include seven market related factors. These include; low price of soap (X̅ = 3.7), poor packaging (X̅ = 3.9), lack of advertisement of black soap (X̅ = 3.8), presence of soap alternatives (X̅ = 3.4), among others. Based on the findings three recommendations were made including persons in soap enterprise should create massive awareness about the potentials of the soap, and government should deploy adequate number of extension agents to enhance effective dissemination of appropriate technologies to black soap producers.