Effect of Entrepreneurial Competencies on the Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the effect of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria. The study focused on selected SMEs in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State. The study specifically examined the effect of strategic competencies, conceptual competencies and opportunity competencies on the performance of SMEs in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State. A survey design was adopted for the study and questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The population consists of 210 owners of SMEs in Makurdi Metropolis and census sampling was adopted for the study. The study used simple percentages, mean ad standard deviation for data presentation and analysis while regression analysis was used for test of hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that strategic competencies have significant effect on the performance of SMEs in Benue State. The study also revealed that conceptual competencies have significant effect on the performance of SMEs in Benue State. Finally, the study indicated that opportunity competencies have significant effect on the performance of SMEs in Benue State. The study concludes that entrepreneurial competencies are important for the every entrepreneur. The study recommended that owners of SMEs in Benue State should constantly monitor their customers in order to have a clear understanding of customer needs.

Keyword: Entrepreneurship, Performance, Competencies, Benue, Nigeria.