[01] Samuel Taiwo Toluyemi, Department of Agricultural Development Management, Agricultural & Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Nigeria. [02] Mubarak Sanni, Department of Accounting & Finance, College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria. [03] Temitope Titilayo Toluyemi, Department of Operations, Pension Alliance Limited (PAL), Lagos, Nigeria.

There is little evidence of research efforts into success factors in MSMEs in Africa. However, many research efforts have focused on constraints or challenges of MSMEs performance. No doubt these efforts have provided some insights into the understanding of the practice of entrepreneurship in Africa. However, they failed to provide adequate understanding of processes, mechanisms and procedures through which these factors influence performance of enterprises in Africa: This study therefore, attempts to bridge this gap by examining the extent at which some identified factors influence performance of enterprises in Nigeria. Appropriate descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis were used to describe and analyze the data collected. The study revealed that the age at which a potential entrepreneur starts apprenticeship, entrepreneur’s level of education, family type of entrepreneur and the enterprise start-up arrangement have negative relationship with the performance of enterprises. On the other hand, period of apprenticeship, backward, forward and horizontal networkings have positive relationship with the level of performance of enterprises. However, only forward networking is significant at 1% level of significance while backward networking and family type are significant at 5% level of significance. In the same vein enterprise location is significant at 10% level of significance. The study recommended that the Nigerian Educational Curriculum be amended to include entrepreneurial development right from the primary school to the tertiary level. Similarly, Government at all levels should embark on empowerment programmes for youth to encourage them to get attached to a master trainer for mentoring. The master trainers should be given incentives based on the number of their mentees. However, at the end of the mentoring, professional certification should be given to successful participants. This certification will enable them to approach any designated financial institution with a bankable proposal for funding. In addition the study also recommends enhancement of Value Chain Development skills and processes especially for agricultural produce. The study also recommends further research to be made into success factors on industry and sector basis as each industry and sector are unique.

Success Factors, Performance Entrepreneurship, Micro, Small and Medium, Enterprises (MSMEs)

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