Abstract

This study examined the relationship between data science capabilities (DSC) and business intelligence (BI) performance among manufacturing firms in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Anchored on the Resource-Based View and the Dynamic Capabilities perspective, the study conceptualised DSC across four dimensions: data infrastructure, analytics talent, data governance, and a data-driven culture. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and structured questionnaires were administered to 320 managers and analysts drawn from manufacturing firms across the six states of the region. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. Findings revealed a strong, positive and statistically significant relationship between DSC and BI performance (r = 0.68, p less than 0.01), with the four dimensions jointly explaining about 54 percent of the variance in BI performance. Data infrastructure and a data-driven culture emerged as the strongest predictors. The study concludes that deliberate investment in data science capabilities materially improves the quality, timeliness and use of business intelligence, and recommends that manufacturers prioritise integrated data platforms, analytics skills development, and governance frameworks