The growth and development of small and medium enterprises have been a focus for policy makers and researchers in the developed and developing countries. One major issue that has been inhibiting the ability to assist this important sector to achieve higher performance is lack of competencies on the part of the entrepreneurs. This study therefore investigates the effect of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Kaduna state. Survey research design was employed in the study which is cross sectional in nature. Primary data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire issued to the respondents using stratified and simple random sampling technique. The data was collected from a sample of 174 out of a population of 201 owner managers in Kaduna state. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected for the study with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses formulated for the study. The findings revealed that entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurial characteristics have significant positive effect on the performance of SMEs in the state. It was also found that entrepreneurial motives have insignificant effect on the performance of SMEs. The study recommended a need for combined efforts between governments at all levels and NGOs towards not only funding but also initiating management training and development programmes for the entrepreneurs in order to enable them acquire necessary skills, enhance and appreciate their inborn personalities and abilities.