Despite Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources and sustained policy interventions, persistent poverty and uneven socioeconomic development continue to raise concerns about the effectiveness of existing growth strategies. Against this background, this study examined the roles of digital economy policy, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and sustainable development in shaping perceived economic growth in Nigeria. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected from 361 SME operators and related business environments using a structured survey instrument. The study was guided by the research question: to what extent do digital economy policy, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and sustainable development influence perceived economic growth in Nigeria? Multiple regression and ANOVA analyses were employed to test the relationships among the variables. The findings reveal that all four constructs exert a statistically significant positive influence on perceived economic growth, with entrepreneurship emerging as the strongest predictor. Digital economy policy also demonstrates a strong and significant effect, highlighting the critical role of ICT infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and digital competencies in enhancing productivity and business performance. Sustainable development exhibits a moderate positive influence, suggesting the gradual integration of environmental and social sustainability considerations into SME operations and strategic practices. Financial inclusion, although statistically significant, records the weakest effect, indicating that access to financial services alone may be insufficient in the absence of complementary structural, institutional, and technological support systems. The discussion further confirms that SMEs constitute a central driver of Nigeria’s economic transformation, particularly when supported by effective digital policies, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and inclusive institutional frameworks. However, disparities in infrastructure development, digital accessibility, and financial service penetration continue to constrain the full realization of inclusive growth strategies. The originality of this study lies in its comprehensive and integrated empirical framework, which combines digital economy policy, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and sustainable development within a single analytical model. This study therefore provides evidence-based insights for policymakers and development stakeholders on how coordinated, technology-driven, and inclusive policy strategies can strengthen Nigeria’s long-term economic growth trajectory and sustainable development outcomes.
Amuda et al. (Wed,) studied this question.