MODERATING EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA
By Mohammed Bello Idris, Helen Afang Andow
Volume 10 • Issue No 2 • May 2026
Abstract
Entrepreneurial orientation are widely acceptable means of resolving challenges of SMEs in Nigeria as they prepare individuals for the establishment and operations of SMEs. This study empirically examined the role of government support on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and SMEs performance in northwestern Nigeria. The study is based on primary data collected from six hundred and eighty-six owner managers using structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using the technique of structural equation modelling and PLS version 3 was used for the analysis. The finding of this study revealed that innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking propensity significantly impact on performance of SMEs in Northwestern Nigeria and government support does not significantly moderate the relation between entrepreneurial orientation and SMEs performance in northwestern Nigeria. The study concluded that provision of adequate training on entrepreneurial orientation will promote SMEs performance in northwestern Nigeria and the nature of government support need to be revisited to enhance SMEs operations. The study recommended that government should provide adequate entrepreneurial orientation programmes to entrepreneurs to boast their performance and device other means of providing support to increase the operational performance of SMEs.
Keywords
Entrepreneurial Orientation, Innovativeness, pro-activeness, risk taking, SMEs Performance