ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION: A CATALYST FOR COMPETITIVENESS AMONG AGRO-PROCESSING SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the competitiveness of agro-processing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kogi State. Specifically, the study investigated the influence of innovation, proactiveness, risk-taking, autonomy, and competitive aggressiveness on competitiveness. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 184 owners and managers of agro-processing SMEs using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics with the aid of descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that entrepreneurial orientation dimensions jointly have a significant effect on competitiveness (R² = 0.610, p < 0.05), explaining 61.0% of the variation in competitiveness. Specifically, proactiveness, autonomy, and competitive aggressiveness were found to have significant positive effects on competitiveness, while innovation and risk-taking had no statistically significant effects. The study concludes that entrepreneurial orientation is a critical determinant of competitiveness among agro-processing SMEs, although the impact varies across its dimensions. The study recommends that SME owners and managers should strengthen proactive strategies, enhance competitive aggressiveness, and promote autonomy in decision-making to improve competitiveness. The study also suggests that policymakers and stakeholders should design support mechanisms that encourage entrepreneurial strategic behavior among agro-processing SMEs.

0 23 Jun, 2026

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