Abstract The alarming rate of business failure in Nigeria is worrisome. Addressing this challenge require not only government intervention in policy but a multi-stakeholder engagement to share ideas, innovations, and drive success. This study examines factors that militates against performance among microenterprise operators in Abia state, Nigeria. The specific objective is to ascertain the level of profitability of these enterprises and social factors influencing their performance. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents and location. Data were collected through interview with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as tables, percentages and multi-regression model were employed to analysis data obtained. The study found that the mean profit of operators is small and inadequate to sustain the business. Inflation, government policy, scarcity of raw material militates against operators performance. The study recommends that since government and private sector drive engine of development, hence both must collaborate in addressing these challenges by sharing ideas through stakeholder engagement. Also, investment in agriculture to drive the local content law as a way of addressing challenge of scarcity of raw material among other recommendations. Acknowledgement : The authors wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Dr Agwu Nnanna M. and our many students.