STATUS OF THE UTILISATION OF E-COMMERCE RESOURCES BY SMALL AND MEDIUM (SMEs) ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to explore the utilization of e-commerce by SMEs in marketing industrial products in Lagos metropolis (Nigeria). Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population for the study consisted of 532 managers of SMEs that are registered in Lagos metropolis. Structured questionnaire was used to generate data for the stud which was administered on the entire population with 477 copies of the questionnaire duly completed used for the study. Percentages, mean, chi-square and ANOVA were used respectively to analyse the data. The major findings were that the SMEs in Lagos (Nigeria) only made high use of e-mail and World Wide Web for marketing industrial products. E-commerce utilization by SMEs was hampered by a lot of problems mostly importantly the energy problems in the country. It was recommended that an appropriate government policy be formulated to stimulate the utilisation of e-commerce by SMEs in Nigeria.