DEMYSTIFYING THE MEDIATING ROLE OF COMPETENCE ON ASSERTIVENESS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN LAGOS STATE

This study aims to empirically examine the influence of the assertiveness of women entrepreneurs on their social performance and the moderating role of competence. The data for this study was collected from one Hundred and Three (103) respondents from the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), which was founded in 1978 and registered under the land perpetual succession Act as a nonprofit organization. The findings reveal that women's assertiveness is significant, positive predictors of social responsibility. The bulk (47.6%) of the respondents were between 31-40 years old, 40.8% of the respondents had been working for between 6- 10 years, while 87.4 percent of the women are married. The regression coefficients reflect the direct effects of both assertiveness and competence on social responsibility within the path model. The methodological framework used in this study provides an enhanced understanding and developing literature on the mediating effect of competence in the relationship between women's assertiveness and social performance. This study concludes that there is a significant relationship between women's assertiveness (focus, confidence, flexibility) and social performance, which is being mediated by the strategic and relationship competence of women entrepreneurs. This study recommends and suggests that women entrepreneurial competence should be strengthened to improve their social performance. Furthermore, women's assertiveness should be improved through the development of entrepreneurial competencies of women, and this should be addressed through supportive policies.