THE RESILIENCE OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
How do female entrepreneurs build resilience in Nigeria? This study proposed an evidence-based female entrepreneurial resilience framework which demonstrates resilience building processes of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Previous studies established the value of resilience in enabling entrepreneurs to overcome and bounce-back from adversities and setbacks; and suggest that the process of developing resilience can be developed or encouraged. This research advances current understanding in the literature by exploring the entrepreneurial resilience of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The study uncovered how female entrepreneurs use coping mechanisms through a combination of factors and relationships to cope or overcome loss, hardships, difficulties and bounce back from adversities and uncertainties. Despite the significant role and contribution of female entrepreneurs to both social development and economic growth of local and global economies, female entrepreneurs in emerging economies are often marginalized and encountered various adversities and uncertainties which disrupt their business activities. Since resilience is crucial in facilitating success of female entrepreneurs, this thesis argues that the magnitude of the adversities and complexities which female entrepreneurs encounter require resilience. In doing so, the thesis draws on social capital theory which purports the significance of trust, norms of reciprocity and networks built from mutual sharing, cooperation, repeated actions, generalized reciprocity and continuous action which result in social investment of connections, relationships and goodwill between individuals. The thesis contend that female entrepreneurs can build resilience needed to overcome adversity by leveraging on social capital investments to facilitate business continuity and entrepreneurial success. This research explores the resilience of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria, focusing on their resilience amidst adversities and uncertainties in business operations. The study adopted an interpretivist paradigm and interviewed 30 female entrepreneurs in Lagos Nigeria. Findings reveal that female entrepreneurs build resilience through social trust and societal acceptance, using norms of entrepreneurial resilience, digital businesses, entrepreneurial networks, and overcoming the critical point of entrepreneurial resilience in failure. This thesis findings contribute to resilience, gender and entrepreneurship literature by presenting a process-based view of building female entrepreneurial resilience using a combination of activities and factors. The thesis also contributes to understanding the development and use of social capital in online networks thereby extending social capital insights by demonstrating the significance of social capital norms and networks in resilience building. The thesis further contributes to entrepreneurial failure research by assessing entrepreneurs’ failure insights from an entrepreneurial resilience perspective and explained some micro-processes between the stages of entrepreneurial recovery and re-emergence after failure. Government and policy stakeholders need to focus on financing resilience and supporting female enterprise network development initiatives towards eroding gender inequalities, fostering innovation and resilient communities. This thesis contribution align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals (SDG) goal 5, 10 and 11 relating to reducing inequalities, promoting gender equality and promoting inclusive and resilient communities.
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