Entrepreneurial Orientation and Financial Performance of SMEs among Ethnic Sullubawa Nomadic Fulani in Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between proactive dimension of entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance among Ethnic Sullubawa Nomadic Fulani in Kano State. The study also evaluates the moderating influence of key environmental characteristics, dynamism and hostility on this relationship. Literature in this area was examined leading to hypothesis development. Measurement instrument utilized where based on scale items previously established in the literature by researchers for measuring this construct. Reliability and validity of this scale items were also established by previous studies. The investigation covered only firms operated by Ethnic Sullubawa Nomadic Fulani in Kano state Nigeria, with the following characteristics: (a) having at least 10 employees and a maximum of 300 workers, (b) small and medium sized enterprises, (c) standing alone, not a subsidiary or branch companies (d) and based in Kano. A total of 352 owners/managers of SMEs participated in the research. Data collected were analysed using Hierarchical Moderated Regression Analysis implemented in the SPSS statistical program. The results show proactive has positive and significant relationship with firm performance among Ethnic Sullubawa Nomadic Fulani indicating that the theoretical framework is supported. It was also found that this relationship is partially influenced by environmental dynamism and hostility. These findings demonstrate that proactiveness alone is not a significant determinant of firm performance among Ethnic Sullubawa Nomadic Fulani, it is being influenced partially by environmental characteristics. The implication of these findings for both researchers and managers were also discussed. The study contributes to the expanding field of entrepreneurial orientation research and provide additional insight into the strategic behaviour of firms in a variety of environmental contents.