Purpose: The study explored entrepreneurial resilience among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, focusing on the challenges faced, coping strategies adopted, and the role of resilience in enhancing performance in an uncertain business environment.

Methodology/Design: A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 350 SME owners and managers across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Stratified random sampling ensured representation across manufacturing, services, and retail sectors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple regression, with reliability and validity tests confirming the robustness of the instrument.

Findings: The results indicated a significant negative relationship between environmental challenges and SME performance (r = –0.421, p < 0.01), a significant positive relationship between coping strategies and entrepreneurial resilience (r = 0.536, p < 0.01), and a significant positive effect of entrepreneurial resilience on performance (β = 0.482, p < 0.001). The findings collectively, highlight that resilience, developed through adaptive coping strategies, enables SMEs to mitigate challenges and improve competitiveness.

Implications: The study contributes to theory by validating the Resource-Based View, Conservation of Resources theory, and Entrepreneurial Orientation perspective in the Nigerian SME context. Practically, it underscores the importance of resilience-building strategies for SME managers and calls for supportive policies addressing systemic challenges.