Platform Entrepreneurship and Value Creation in Nigeria’s Sharing Economy: Evidence from Ride-Hailing and Delivery Platforms

This study empirically examines platform entrepreneurship and value creation dynamics in Nigeria's sharing economy, focusing on the ride-hailing and last-mile delivery platform sectors where entrepreneurs operate either as platform developers or as driver-entrepreneurs working within established platform ecosystems in Lagos and Abuja. The Nigerian sharing economy has grown rapidly with the entry of Uber, Bolt, Gokada, Rida, and domestic last-mile delivery platforms, creating a new class of platform-dependent micro-entrepreneurs whose income, autonomy, and entrepreneurial capability development depend on platform governance and algorithmic management. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a survey of 200 driver-entrepreneurs across both platforms with 15 in-depth interviews and six interviews with platform managers. Survey data examine income levels, satisfaction, autonomy perception, and entrepreneurial capability development. Interviews explore strategic interactions between driver-entrepreneurs and platform governance structures. Regression analysis and thematic analysis are applied. Findings reveal a paradox of platform entrepreneurship in Nigeria: while platforms provide access to customers and operational infrastructure unavailable to independent operators, their algorithmic pricing and rating systems substantially constrain driver-entrepreneurs' ability to exercise strategic autonomy. Income is highly variable and sensitive to platform fee changes. Driver-entrepreneurs who manage multiple platform accounts simultaneously show higher monthly earnings but report significantly higher work stress. The study proposes a typology of driver-entrepreneur strategic responses to platform power, including compliance, voice, and exit strategies. Keywords: platform entrepreneurship, sharing economy, ride-hailing, Nigeria, gig economy.