The Influence of Key Social Entrepreneurship Factors on Operational Sustainability in Social Enterprises: Insights from May Coutures Recycling Club Enterprise Limited

This study explores the impact of key social entrepreneurship factors—social innovation, business models, and entrepreneurial motivation—on the operational sustainability of social enterprises, using May Coutures Recycling Club Enterprise Limited in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, as a case study. Employing a descriptive research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 165 staff across management levels (response rate: 87.88%), with analysis through correlation and multiple regression on a sample drawn from a population of 280 using stratified random sampling and Yamane's formula. Results revealed strong positive correlations (social innovation r=0.770; business models r=0.758; entrepreneurial motivation r=0.875; all p<0.001) and significant regression effects (β=0.629 for social innovation, β=0.481 for business models, β=0.317 for entrepreneurial motivation; model F=114.753, p<0.001, R² indicating good fit), confirming these factors improve sustainability. The findings emphasize the need for Nigerian social enterprises to prioritize innovation, hybrid models, and motivation to achieve long-term viability amid economic challenges, offering implications for managers, policymakers, and future research on context-specific interventions.