Succession without structure: a multilevel study of family business transition in Sub-Saharan Africa

What is it about?

Family businesses are vital to the economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet many struggle to successfully pass leadership from one generation to the next. This study explores why succession in these businesses is so challenging. Based on interviews with founders, successors, and managers in Nigerian family firms, the research finds that cultural traditions, unclear legal rules, informal planning, and limited successor preparation often disrupt smooth leadership transitions. The study shows how these barriers interact across family, organisational, and societal levels. By understanding these challenges, family businesses and policymakers can adopt better succession practices to ensure continuity and create inclusive leadership opportunities.

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