SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPISES AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN NIGERIA

Infrastructural constraints in Nigeria militate against efficient performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and adversely affect industrial growth in the country. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship that exists between manufacturing SMEs production and industrial growth in Nigeria. Secondary data was sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Statistical Bulletin and National Bureau of Statistics publications for the period 2002-2016, and regression analysis was used in analysing the data. Findings of the study reveal that manufacturing SMEs’ production has a statistically significant relationship with industrial growth in Nigeria. This implies that manufacturing SMEs are capable of accelerating industrial growth through their contributions to the economy. The study, however, advocates more government intervention by facilitating access to congressional funds for SMEs to trigger SMEs increased contributions to growth and industrial growth in Nigeria.