Academy of Strategic Management Journal Volume 17, Issue 2, 2017 1 1939-6104-17-2-187 INTRAPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL Maxwell Olokundun, Covenant University Hezekiah Falola, Covenant University Stephen Ibidunni, Covenant University Olaleke Ogunnaike, Covenant University Fred Peter, Covenant University Oladele Kehinde, Covenant University ABSTRACT The motility rate of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria at present is a major a source of concern. This is hinged on the prevailing economic recession leading to organizational stagnation and non-performance of these firms. However, the innovative activities of intrapreneurs can be effective at achieving innovative performance within an organization. This is based on the premise that intrapreneurs can identify and exploit new business opportunities within their organization or create new ventures under the auspices of their existing organization. Therefore the objective of this study is to show that the innovative activities of intrapreneurs can be effective at achieving innovative performance of SMEs in Nigeria. The article also proposed a conceptual model to illustrate the relationship between intrapreneurship and innovation performance in order to engender innovative performance of SMEs in Nigeria. The study concludes that promoting intrapreneurship in Nigerian firms will play a major role in motivating as well as creating a platform for employees to express their visionary and creative abilities aimed at improved innovation performance. This creates an effective organizational work environment that keeps businesses in Nigeria competitively well positioned. Keywords: Intrapreneurship, Innovation, Innovative Performance, Nigeria. INTRODUCTION Technological changes and globalization result in persistent market competition putting immense pressure on small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria (McDowell, 2017). The relentless pressure of market competition in Nigeria is increasingly making it more difficult for SMEs to maintain competitive advantage (Osibanjo, Adeniji, Salau & Falola, 2016). Small and medium scale enterprises are faced with the options of either becoming one of the market leaders or experience stagnation; hence this explains the recession and high mortality rate of small and medium scale enterprises experienced in Nigeria at present. One of the strategies small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria can adopt as regards combating stagnation and the adverse effects of recession is to encourage the expression of entrepreneurial behavior by its employees (Ogbari, Oke, Ibukunoluwa, Ajagbe & Ologbo, 2016). This would result in employees mapping out new strategies, initiating new venture creation within their organizations and breaking new frontiers aimed at innovation performance. Intrapreneurship is a major driver of innovative performance particularly because it enhances employees to express behaviors aimed at