Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role and contribution of SMEs performance in the national development of a developing country like Nigeria. The performance of SMEs plays a major role, but there is a dearth of literature about their contribution which are not well researched in Nigeria. This paper focuses on what SMEs performance contribute and what barriers are there which make them not to contribute at their optimum. A lot of research on the SMEs performance contribution is on developed countries and developing countries with little on developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – This is a general review paper on the performance of SMEs and its contribution that have been made and can make to the national development of Nigeria. Findings – the role SMEs performance in the national growth in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. The performance of SMEs and its contributions has manifested and shown that they are a major area to be researched to assist the policy makers and the SMEs, owners to encourage enabling and conducive environment for SMEs to perform more Originality/value – This work is aimed at raising awareness of the importance and the performance level of SMEs to national and economic development of a developing country like Nigeria.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role and contribution of SMEs performance in the national development of a developing country like Nigeria. The performance of SMEs plays a major role, but there is a dearth of literature about their contribution which are not well researched ...