The focus of this research was to present a data article on the contribution of SMEs to economic development in a transiting economy. Descriptive research design was adopted in this study. Data were obtained from 600 respondents in 60 small-scale enterprises located in different parts of the country (20 small-scale enterprises located in Lagos State, 20 in Anambra State and 20 in Kano State of Nigeria respectively). Data analysis was carried out using tables and percentages and the null hypotheses of the study was tested using chi-square (X2) inferential statistical model at 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between the operation of small and medium-scale enterprises and economic growth in developing nations.

SME operators in the informal sector of developing economies have a significant influence on their nation's economies through their involvement in international business relationships. However, the existing deficiency in the literature to show empirical relationships between knowledge transfer, from these SMEs and their international business partners, and innovation performance is a significant gap in the strategic management and international business literature. Therefore, this paper explores the link between knowledge transfer and innovation performance of informal economy SMEs that are involved in international business relationships. The study included a survey of 370 owners-managers and managers of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria's informal electronic market. Using Structural Equation Model (AMOS 22) this study shows that knowledge transfer dimensions, such as R&D and social networking, have varying levels of impact on innovation performance of informal sector SMEs. Knowledge transfer from training showed an inverse and insignificant relationship with innovation performance. The study established implications and recommendations that will be useful for theory and practice.

Traditional methods of teaching entrepreneurship in universities involves more theoretical approaches which are less effective in motivating considerations for an entrepreneurship career. This owes to the fact that such techniques essentially make students develop a dormant attitude rather than active participation. Expert views suggest that experiential entrepreneurship teaching methods in universities which involve practical activities and active participation can be considered salient to students’ development of entrepreneurial interest an business startup potentials. This present study presents data on the extent to which experiential teaching methods in entrepreneurship adopted by Nigerian universities stimulate students’ entrepreneurial interest and business startups. Data have been gathered following a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative survey conducted among university students (N = 600) of four selected institutions in Nigeria offering a degree programme in entrepreneurship. Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis was used in confirming the hypothesis proposed in the study using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.The findings from the analysis showed that the adoption of experiential practical activities considered as best practices in entrepreneurship teaching in Nigerian universities can stimulate students’ interest and drive for engaging in business start-up activities even as undergraduates. The field data set is made extensively available to allow for critical investigation.

Abstract. Employee intrapreneurial engagement is considered to be one of the fundamental initiatives that can help organisations to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in the midst of economic hardship and stiff competition particularly in a volatile and competitive business environment. The main objective of this study is to examine how employees' intrapreneurial engagement initiatives would influence organisational survival. Few studies analyse how employee intrapreneurial engagement may foster organisational survival. In order to bridge this gap, we conducted a survey with three main manufacturing companies in Nigeria. A descriptive research method (Structural Equation Model (AMOS 22)) was applied to analyse the two hundred and fifty-nine (259) copies of valid questionnaire completed by the respondents using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. However, the study indicated that fostering employees' intrapreneurial engagement have positive significant implications on organisational survival. This suggests that employees' empowerment, involvement, autonomy, relationships and reward system have significant effects on organisational survival. It is therefore recommended that organisations should challenge their employees by providing them with autonomy and the freedom to innovate and carve out spaces for them to take risks and experiment. The insights discovered from this study would help to facilitate stakeholders to develop or foster employee intrapreneurial engagement and strong institutional strategies to ensure organisational survival.

PurposeThis study focussed on investigating the impact of entrepreneurial characteristics on the entrepreneurial intention of university students in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopted a survey research design via a well-constructed questionnaire. The study's sample size consisted of 354 aspiring student entrepreneurs.FindingsThe result from the statistical analysis revealed that the entrepreneurial characteristics, especially risk tolerance, the need for achievement and the locus of control (LoC) significantly influence students' entrepreneurial intentions.Research limitations/implicationsOne implication of this study is that risk tolerance has a positive influence on the ability to identify business opportunities. Thus, when persons pay adequate attention to tolerating risks, they have more chances of identifying business opportunities. Despite the valuable contribution made by this research, an important area of future research is to carry out investigations that use a more robust sample size and a multivariate analysis to identify the impact of entrepreneurial competencies on entrepreneurial intentions of university youths from a cross-country perspective amongst developing economies.Originality/valueThere are very little understanding and empirical evidence about how the entrepreneurial characteristics of the youths, especially those in the formal university system of developing countries like Nigeria, can determine and direct their intentions to venture into entrepreneurship endeavours. This study, therefore, undertakes an interventionist role to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics and entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Nigeria.

Universities, across the globe, are identified as complex and critical engines for sustainable development. Nigerian universities have recorded success stories and breakthroughs, but they have their teething problems of retention and challenges which tend to impede their position on the world education league table. Retention of employees in the work environment has attracted a lot of attention from scholars in different fields of study to curb the trend of turnover intentions, human capital flight and redundancy of academia in Nigeria. Hence, this paper investigates the impact of workplace environments on the retention of the academic staff of public universities, Southern-Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional and descriptive approach to elicit information from 384 academic staff that were randomly and purposively selected. The use of a modified questionnaire (quantitative) was adopted. The quantitative data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM_PLS) to obtain results. The findings indicated that the issue of inadequate and decay of infrastructural facilities had been a concern to the sampled universities. Many lecturers, including professors, shared offices that are dilapidated, poorly ventilated and furnished. The results indicated an increasing pauperization, varying promotion criteria, erratic power supply, over-congested classrooms and a growing disparity in the ratio between teaching staff and students. Due to its consequences, strategies for curbing this menace in state universities, such as the creation of enabling environment, adequate funding of tertiary education, effective administration and motivation of staff of the sampled institutions, among others were proffered.

This study examined the relationship between ICT and Accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design, which involves the collection of data from the Accounting department of SMEs in Nigeria. Primary data was employed and copies of questionnaire were administered to respondents for the purpose of this study. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient at a significant level of 1%. Findings revealed a significant relationship between ICT knowledge (Microsoft tools) and accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria also, the study further reviewed significant relationship between ICT adoption (accounting packages) and Accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria. The study therefore recommended that Management of SMEs must periodically send employees on training in the use of ICT.

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