ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES AND SUSTAINABILITY GROWTH IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study examines how entrepreneurial competencies predict the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Kwara State Chapter. The study specifically aimed to evaluate the impact of opportunity recognition competency on SME growth, examine the role of strategic thinking competency in ensuring sustainability, assess the influence of innovation competency on performance and competitive edge, and determine the effect of networking competency on long-term survival. The population of the study comprised members of NASME, Kwara State Chapter, while the Taro Yamane formula was used to determine an appropriate sample size. The stratified random sampling technique was adopted, dividing the population based on the sixteen local government areas in Kwara State to ensure adequate representation. Findings revealed that opportunity recognition competency significantly influences SME growth, as entrepreneurs who identify profitable opportunities are more likely to expand their operations. Strategic thinking competency was found to play a vital role in ensuring sustainability through effective goal setting and risk analysis. Innovation competency strongly and positively affected SME performance and competitiveness, while networking competency was essential for long-term survival through access to resources and collaboration. Collectively, these competencies were found to contribute significantly to the resilience, performance, and sustainability of SMEs. In conclusion, the study establishes that entrepreneurial competencies are indispensable drivers of SME success within NASME, Kwara State. It recommends that entrepreneurs should engage in continuous capacity-building, adopt strategic thinking, foster innovation, and strengthen networking efforts. Furthermore, government and business support agencies are encouraged to design policies and incentives that promote competency development to enhance SME growth and sustainability.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.