Supply Chain Management and Business Sustainability among SMEs in Nigeria

Abstract

The persistent sustainability challenges facing small and medium enterprises in Nigeria have continued to threaten their operational continuity, competitiveness, and long term contribution to economic development. This study examined the effect of supplier relationship management, internal supply chain integration, and customer relationship and information integration on business sustainability among SMEs in Nigeria. A cross sectional survey research design was adopted, and the population comprised 41 million SMEs in Nigeria based on the SMEDAN and National Bureau of Statistics MSME Survey Report (2021). Using Yamane’s formula, a sample size of 400 respondents was determined and distributed across the six geopolitical zones through online platforms. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, diagnostic tests, and multiple regression analysis with the aid of SPSS version 26. The findings revealed that supplier relationship management had a significant positive effect on business sustainability, internal supply chain integration exerted a significant positive influence on business sustainability, and customer relationship and information integration had the strongest significant positive effect on business sustainability among SMEs in Nigeria. The study concluded that effective supply chain management practices are critical drivers of sustainable business performance in the Nigerian SME sector. The study recommended that SME owners and managers should strengthen collaborative supplier partnerships, improve coordination among internal business functions, and invest in customer information and relationship management systems to enhance operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, competitiveness, and long term business sustainability.