Volume 2, Issue 1, 2026

ADOPTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE RESILIENCE OF DIGITALLY TRANSFORMED SMEs IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Dr. Kadiri Kayode Ibrahim & Emmanuel Numa Sani

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)
adoption on the resilience of digitally transformed small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) in Abuja, Nigeria. Despite extensive
research on digital transformation, limited attention has been
given to how AI adoption specifically affects firms that have
previously undergone digital transformation. Anchored in
organizational capability theory, this quantitative study examines
three critical constructs of AI adoption: AI organizational
readiness, AI market trend, and perceived AI benefits, and their
influence on SME resilience. Using a cross-sectional survey
design, data were collected from 384 digitally transformed SMEs
in Abuja through online questionnaires. The analysis employed
multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 23. The results
show that three of the constructs influence SME resilience
significantly in a positive direction (R = 0.203, F = 32.30, p <
0.01). Among them, the AI market trend had the most significant
influence ( = 0.300, p < 0.01), and perceived benefits of AI came
next ( = 0.245, p < 0.01), and last of all was AI organizational
readiness ( = 0.154, p < 0.01). The results deepen the theory of
dynamic capabilities for the AI age and offer practical
recommendations to managers and policymakers in SMEs in terms
of their decision-making over AI adoption strategy development to
enhance organizational resilience.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence, SME Resilience, Digital Transformation, Organizational Capability

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