Business coaching for SME sustainability in Nigeria: a brief review of the literature

Entrepreneurial activities constitute a significant contribution to the economic well-being of developing economies such as Nigeria. However, many of the country's small and medium-sized enterprises do not survive beyond the first five years, and very few eventually grow into maturity. Prior research has underlined the benefits of business coaching to help novice entrepreneurs acquire the necessary technical and managerial skills to see their businesses through the start-up phases. However, precisely how actual business coaching/mentoring can support novice entrepreneurs within the Nigerian context remains an unexplored area of scholarship. Further, there is lack of adequate investigation regarding novice entrepreneurs' experiences with the coach-protege relationship, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. This literature review synthesises the body of knowledge on the study of entrepreneurship in Nigeria, providing a basis for future research on how the coachprotege relationship can be further improved and in turn contribute to entrepreneurship sustainability.