Towards a Gender Perspective: Examining Entrepreneurial Resilience and SME Success in Nigeria

PurposeAbility to pull through and rebound to business is significant for entrepreneurs after failures and setbacks. While resilience is widely acknowledged as a crucial factor in explaining firms’ outcomes, limited research has explored its gendered dimensions, especially in the Nigerian context. This study explores the relationship between entrepreneurial resilience and SME success, with a particular focus on gender as a moderating variable. Design/methodology/approachThe study used a survey research design. Data were collected from 350 SME owners across Nigeria, of which 238 valid responses were analysed. Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) was used to evaluate resilience across three dimensions: hardiness, resourcefulness, and optimism. Regression analysis was used to examine the direct and moderated effect on entrepreneurial success. FindingsThe findings revealed a significant positive association between entrepreneurial resilience and SME success. Resilience dimensions collectively explain 32.1% of the variance in entrepreneurial success (R² = 0.321, F = 38.428, p < 0.001), with all predictor variables; hardiness (t = 3.763), resourcefulness (t = 3.379), and optimism (t = 1.998) having significant impacts (p < 0.05). Including gender as a moderating variable, also reports a significant improvement in explanatory power (R² = 0.328, F = 58.747, p < 0.001), indicating that gender stimulate the strength of the association between resilience and success. Originality/valueThe study fills a critical gap in literature by highlighting the gendered nature of entrepreneurial resilience in SME success in Nigeria. The findings offer practical implications for policy development and support systems tailored to strengthen resilience among male and female entrepreneurs, thereby enhancing SME sustainability and growth