  As several countries were experiencing unprecedented economic slowdowns due
to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, small business enterprises
started adapting to digital technologies for business transactions. However, in
Africa, particularly Nigeria, COVID-19 pandemic resulted to some financial
crisis that impacted negatively on the sustainability of small and medium-sized
(SMEs) businesses. Thus, this study examined the role of social media on
selected SMEs in Nigeria in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic that led to
several lock downs in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus. Cross-sectional
survey research design was used alongside convenience population sampling
techniques. The population was categorised based on selected SMEs businesses,
while a quantitative research approach was adopted, and primary data were
collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to owners
and operators of SMEs in Ikotun and Ikeja areas of Lagos State, Nigeria. A
total of 190 questionnaires were distributed, where 183 usable responses were
analysed. The findings of the study show that SMEs were aware of the usefulness
of social media to their businesses as they largely leveraged it in conducting
their businesses during the national lockdowns. The study recommended that
labour/trade unions should sensitise and encourage business owners on the
benefits of continuous use of social media in carrying out their business
transactions.
