Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Green Business Practices Among Lagos SMEs: A Management Review

This study conducts a management review of sustainable entrepreneurship practices and green business adoption among small and medium enterprises in Lagos State, examining the extent to which Lagos SMEs have integrated environmental and social sustainability considerations into their business models, operations, and strategy. Environmental sustainability is an increasingly important dimension of business management globally, yet the uptake of green business practices among Nigerian SMEs is limited and poorly documented, leaving a gap between the sustainability rhetoric in policy documents and the actual operational practices of the small enterprise sector. The study employs a mixed-methods design, combining a survey of 180 SME owners across manufacturing, retail, and services in Ikeja, Victoria Island, and Alimosho Local Government Areas with 15 in-depth interviews exploring sustainability management in depth. Survey data examine environmental management practices, sustainability motivation, and the perceived business case for green operations. Interview data explore sustainability governance and the challenges of green practice implementation. Findings indicate that Lagos SMEs with international supply chain connections show significantly higher adoption of formal sustainability management practices, driven by buyer-imposed standards. Domestically oriented SMEs show primarily cost-motivated environmental practices including energy efficiency and waste reduction where these reduce operational costs. Social sustainability practices are more widespread than environmental ones, reflecting stronger community accountability norms in Nigerian business culture. Recommendations include a Lagos State green SME certification scheme with tax incentives for certified enterprises. Keywords: sustainable entrepreneurship, green business, Lagos SME, environmental management, sustainability.