Strengthening Women-Led Businesses During COVID-19: The Role of Estate Management, Social Capital, and Community Leadership in Residential Estates in Lagos, Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a massive shock to global economic activity, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) wereamong the most impacted. Women-led enterprises in residential estates in Lagos, Nigeria, were particularly vulnerable as Lagosis a highly densely populated urban center that is characterized by very high dependence on informal enterprise. Most of theseenterprises, however, showed resilience by basing their operations on hyperlocal means like estate management, social networks,and community leadership, despite the limited mobility and affected consumer behavior. Many of these businesses found strengthin hyperlocal structures, such as estate management, social networks, and community leadership, despite shifting consumerbehaviors and limited mobility. This article examines how these community-based systems helped the survival and even expansionof women-led businesses throughout the pandemic. The study highlights the value of grassroots systems in protecting womenentrepreneurs against macro-level disruptions by synthesizing theoretical perspectives on social capital and local governance.Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Women-led business, Estate management, Social capital, Community leadership,Lagos.