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The Role of AI Technologies Towards the Advancement of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and SME Development in Nigeria
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Artificial Intelligence
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717700
Abstract
The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is fundamentally reshaping the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, yet empirical evidence on how such technologies affect SME development in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular remains limited. This study examines the role of AI technologies in advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and small and medium enterprise (SME) development in Nigeria. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Resource-Based View (RBV), and Schumpeterian Innovation Theory, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design. A structured questionnaire was administered to 385 SME owner-managers across five geopolitical zones of Nigeria, selected through stratified random sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, mediation analysis (bootstrapped 95% CI), and moderation analysis via IBM SPSS Statistics Version 28. Findings indicate that AI Adoption Index (β = 0.312, p < .001), Digital Platform Usage (β = 0.214, p < .001), and AI-driven Innovation (β = 0.261, p < .001) are significant positive predictors of SME Growth Performance (R² = 0.691). Entrepreneurial intent and human capital partially mediate the AI–SME growth relationship, while business sector significantly moderates the effect of AI adoption on growth outcomes. The study concludes that AI adoption is a critical lever for SME competitiveness in Nigeria, and recommends policy action on digital infrastructure, targeted AI literacy programmes, and enabling regulatory frameworks. The findings contribute to both the theoretical and practical discourse on digital entrepreneurship and AI-driven development in emerging economies.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, SME Development, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Nigeria, Emerging Economies
How to cite this paper
@article{1717700,
author = {Kehinde Rasheed Adegoke, Dr. Israel Adewale Adeleke, Risikat Olaitan Mosobalaje, Taiwo Bashiru Adegoke},
title = {The Role of AI Technologies Towards the Advancement of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and SME Development in Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {11},
pages = {1539-1550},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1717700.pdf},
abstract = {The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is fundamentally reshaping the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, yet empirical evidence on how such technologies affect SME development in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular remains limited. This study examines the role of AI technologies in advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and small and medium enterprise (SME) development in Nigeria. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Resource-Based View (RBV), and Schumpeterian Innovation Theory, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design. A structured questionnaire was administered to 385 SME owner-managers across five geopolitical zones of Nigeria, selected through stratified random sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, mediation analysis (bootstrapped 95% CI), and moderation analysis via IBM SPSS Statistics Version 28. Findings indicate that AI Adoption Index (β = 0.312, p < .001), Digital Platform Usage (β = 0.214, p < .001), and AI-driven Innovation (β = 0.261, p < .001) are significant positive predictors of SME Growth Performance (R² = 0.691). Entrepreneurial intent and human capital partially mediate the AI–SME growth relationship, while business sector significantly moderates the effect of AI adoption on growth outcomes. The study concludes that AI adoption is a critical lever for SME competitiveness in Nigeria, and recommends policy action on digital infrastructure, targeted AI literacy programmes, and enabling regulatory frameworks. The findings contribute to both the theoretical and practical discourse on digital entrepreneurship and AI-driven development in emerging economies.},
keywords = {Artificial Intelligence, SME Development, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Nigeria, Emerging Economies},
month = {May},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1717700}
}