ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND BUSINESS RESILIENCE AMONG NIGERIAN SMES IN THE POST-COVID ERA

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities in Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), challenging their operational resilience and sustainability. In the post-COVID recovery phase, understanding the entrepreneurial factors that drive business resilience has become critical. This study examines the impact of entrepreneurial orientation specifically innovativeness, risk-taking propensity, and proactiveness on the resilience of Nigerian SMEs, measured in terms of adaptability, operational continuity, and recovery capability. The study adopts a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, targeting SME owners and managers across diverse sectors in Nigeria. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires grounded in validated scales from existing literature. Business resilience was measured using multi-item Likert-scale responses reflecting adaptability, continuity, and recovery. The independent variables innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness—were assessed via self-reported survey items. The data were analyzed using Stata 17, beginning with descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation, followed by multiple linear regression analysis. Reliability and validity were confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis. Preliminary findings indicate that innovativeness and proactiveness significantly enhance business resilience, while risk-taking propensity has a positive but statistically weaker influence. The results underscore the importance of forward-looking strategic behaviors and creative problem-solving in helping SMEs navigate post-crisis environments. The study concludes that entrepreneurial orientation is a critical driver of SME resilience in Nigeria’s volatile business climate. It recommends that SME development programs focus on innovation training, strategic foresight, and risk management education to equip entrepreneurs with adaptive competencies for future crises.