Influence of Technology Incubation Support Services on the Growth and Sustainability of Small-Scale Enterprises In Kano State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Technology Incubation Centres (TICs) play a vital role in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship through the promotion and support of Small-Scale Enterprises (SSEs). In Nigeria, the government has established TICs as part of its strategy to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem and drive innovation. Despite these efforts, the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) reported in 2023 that 80% of SSEs fail before their fifth anniversary, primarily due to lack of access to capital and poor business practices. This study investigates the effect of technology incubation support services on the sustainability of small-scale enterprises in Kano State. Anchored on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the study adopts a cross-sectional survey design with a quantitative approach, targeting a population of 107 SSEs selected using a census-based sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically Structural Equation Modeling - Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) Version 4, at a 95% confidence level. Findings revealed that technical support services and business support services had positive but statistically insignificant effects on the sustainability of SSEs, with t-statistics of 1.62 (p = 0.104) and 1.13 (p = 0.256), respectively. In contrast, network support services showed a positive and statistically significant effect, with a t-statistic of 4.658 and a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). These results suggest that while technical and business support services offer some benefit, their current design and delivery are insufficiently aligned with the actual needs of enterprises. The study concludes that enhancing the quality, relevance and accessibility of technical and business support services could significantly improve their impact on enterprise sustainability within the incubation ecosystem.