EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAMMES ON THE SURVIVAL OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NASARAWA STATE

Abstract

Despite numerous government and private sector initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, including the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, YouWIN, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), SME survival rates remain persistently low. This study examined the effect of mentorship on the survival of SMEs in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional research design was employed, with a population of 8,187 registered SMEs based on the SMEDAN/NBS/CAC Survey (2021). A sample of 400 owner-managers was determined using the Taro Yamane sampling formula. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that career support, psychological support, and knowledge transfer each have a positive and statistically significant effect on SME survival. These results underscore the critical role of mentorship in strengthening the resilience and long-term sustainability of SMEs by enhancing managerial competence, employee well-being, and organizational learning. The study concludes that mentorship is a strategic resource for improving SME survival in emerging economies. Accordingly, it recommends that SME owners and policymakers strengthen mentorship initiatives by promoting career development opportunities, implementing employee well-being programmes, and fostering knowledge-sharing practices through collaborative networks and continuous learning. These measures are expected to enhance innovation, improve organizational performance, and increase the long-term competitiveness and survival of SMEs in Nigeria.