NAVIGATING REMOTE WORK CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: A CONTEXTUAL STUDY OF NIGERIAN BUSINESSES

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global shift to remote work, reshaping organisational
practices and exposing both opportunities and challenges for businesses, particularly in
developing economies such as Nigeria. Despite its growing relevance, research on how
Nigerian businesses adapt to remote work in the post-pandemic era remains limited. This study
addresses this gap by providing a contextual analysis of remote work adoption in Nigeria.
Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Contingency Theory, and Resource-
Based Theory (RBT), the study employed a qualitative multiple-case research design involving
five purposively selected Nigerian businesses across diverse sectors. Data were collected
through semi-structured interviews with six hundred and twenty three (623) participants and
analyzed using thematic analysis with NVivo 12 software. Findings reveal that communication
barriers, weak digital infrastructure, supervision difficulties, work–life imbalance, and
employee isolation are the major challenges hindering remote work effectiveness. Nevertheless,
businesses leverage remote work to reduce operational costs, enhance flexibility, access global
talent, and expand market reach. To navigate these challenges, organisations are adopting
strategies such as investing in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, implementing results-
based performance measures, promoting virtual socialization, and introducing structured
onboarding and contingency plans. The study concludes that effective remote work
management in Nigeria requires context-specific strategies tailored to sectoral dynamics and
employee needs. It recommends prioritizing digital infrastructure development, strengthening
organizational support systems, and aligning remote work models with industry realities.