CHIATECH JOURNAL · Registered Version of Record

Event Decoration as a Source of Household Income Sustainability in Garkawa, Plateau State, Nigeria: A Descriptive Survey

1. Lydia Kachollom Akila
   ¹Department of Home and Rural Economics, Plateau State College of Agriculture, Garkawa, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Event decoration is an increasingly visible creative-service microenterprise in Nigeria and can diversify household livelihoods through income generated from weddings, birthdays, corporate functions, religious events and other ceremonies. Purpose: This study examined the demographic profile, service portfolio, income contribution and operating constraints of practising event decorators in Garkawa, Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 50 practising event decorators using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed with frequencies, percentages and arithmetic means. Results: Seventy-six percent of respondents were aged 20–40 years, 56% were women, 56% had secondary education and 24% had tertiary education. Mean reported income from event decoration was ₦35,000 per month, equivalent to ₦420,000 annually, and represented an average of 45% of total household income. Wedding decoration was offered by 90% of respondents and was perceived as the most profitable service category. Major constraints were cost and access to materials/equipment, price competition, mismatch between client expectations and budgets, transport difficulties and infrastructure limitations. Conclusion: Event decoration constitutes a meaningful source of supplementary household income in Garkawa and offers a practical pathway for creative entrepreneurship and livelihood diversification. Enterprise outcomes can be strengthened through improved costing, record keeping, equipment access, digital marketing, cooperative asset sharing and targeted business-development support.

Keywords: event decoration; creative entrepreneurship; household income diversification; microenterprise; sustainable livelihoods; informal economy; women entrepreneurship; Plateau State, Nigeria

Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published by CHIA TECH SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES LIMITED. ISSN assignment remains pending.