ENGENDERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The rapid developments in digital technologies and their increased utilization by entrepreneurs especially SMEs has given flue to a digital economy known as digital entrepreneurship. This study investigates how digital entrepreneurship can be engaged to engender sustainable development in Nigeria. The study, premised on the Uses and Gratifications theory and Technology Acceptance model, employed the qualitative design with in-depth interview as the instrument to sample the opinions of 30 respondents on the level of adaptation of digital technology by SMEs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the influence of digital entrepreneurship on sustainable development in Nigeria. The study found that SMEs in the FCT actively espouse digital technologies to the operations of their businesses and that the adaptation of digital technologies by SMEs in the FCT have grown from 30 percent in the last three years to about 70 percent in 2023. Another important finding is that the use of digital technology has high prospects to significantly contribute to the attainment of long-term goals of entrepreneurs desirous of creating social and environmental value through innovative business models. Empirical evidence from this study points to the efficacy of digital entrepreneurship as the driving force behind the rise, growth and sustenance of SMEs, the engine of development of any nation. This study therefore concludes that digital entrepreneurship is a viable option for engendering sustainable development in Nigeria. The study recommends that given the importance and potentials of digital technologies to sustainable national development, government at national and sub national levels should create the enabling environment through the provision of functional and accessible infrastructure necessary for SMEs to easily adopt digital technologies in the running of their businesses.