S.O. OMIGIE

This study investigated the effect of leadership styles on business sustainability among SMEs in Benin City, Edo State. It aimed to evaluate the impact of transformational, transactional, and participative leadership styles on the long-term viability and operational stability of these enterprises. The research adopted a descriptive survey design, using structured questionnaires Ministered to 147 employees across four selected SMEs within the Ugbowo axis. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression techniques to test relationships and hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The fiindings revealed that transformational leadership significantly enhanced business sustainability by promoting vision, motivation, and innovation, thus contributing to long-term growth and adaptability in SMEs. Transactional leadership played an important role in ensuring short-term stability and effective operational control but showed limited influence on sustained business growth. Participative leadership positively affected goal commitment and team involvement, though its impact was more effective when combined with transformational leadership practices. Based on these results, it was recommended that SMEs should prioritize developing transformational leadership competencies to inspire and motivate their workforce and drive innovation crucial for sustained success. Additionally, transactional leadership techniques should be integrated to maintain operational consistency and manage daily business challenges efficiently. Furthermore, fostering participative leadership by encouraging inclusive decision-making and employee engagement was advised to enhance collective responsibility and strengthen overall business sustainability

This study investigated the impact of digital transformation on business performance among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research focused on four dimensions of digital transformation: operational transformation, customer experience transformation, organisational culture and workforce transformation, and product and service innovation. A structured questionnaire was administered to 290 MSMEs, of which 267 valid responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics through SPSS version 22. The findings revealed that operational transformation and customer experience transformation had significant positive effects on business performance, indicating that MSMEs that digitise internal processes and customer engagement platforms experience enhanced productivity and competitiveness. Conversely, organisational culture and workforce transformation, as well as product and service innovation, showed no statistically significant impact on business performance. Based on these findings, the study recommends that MSMEs in Benin City increase investment in workforce digital upskilling, cultivate innovation-friendly organisational cultures, and strategically prioritise digital innovation in product and service delivery. The research contributes to the body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on how various aspects of digital transformation influence MSME performance in an emerging market context.