The rapidly changing landscape in global business has led to intense global competition. Organizations need to operate on the conditions of strong performance to achieve the objective of maximizing the firm’s value. Assessing the performance of organizations and how to improve it continue to be of interest to management and researchers. Studies have shown that abundant physical and natural resources are no longer enough to drive performance. Therefore, Intellectual Capital (IC) has emerged as one of the firm’s key sustainable competitive advantages. This study examined the impact of IC on organisational performance in an emerging economy using non-financial companies quoted in Nigeria as the focus. The study employed ex-post facto research design. The population comprised 100 quoted non-financial companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as of 31 December 2019. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select a sample of 71 non-financial companies to cover all sectors. Secondary data from annual financial statements covering ten-year period (2010 to 2019) were extracted. Validity and reliability of data were premised on the statutory audit of the financial statements. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that Intellectual capital had no significant impact on performance of non-financial companies quoted in Nigeria (Adj R² =0.0208; Wald Stat =1.20; p= 0.309; p < 0.05). Furthermore, firm size does not control the effect of intellectual capital on performance. (Adj R² =0.0225; Wald Stat =0.90; p = 0.466; p < 0.05). The study concluded that intellectual capital did not enhance the performance of non-financial companies quoted in Nigeria. Enhancing intellectual capital stock would improve the short-and-long-term profitability, financial stability, productivity, and market-to-book value of the organization. The study recommended that management should strengthen the human capital coupled with appropriate organizational structure and procedures to improve organizational performance and build relationships with all firm’s stakeholders. The government should establish standards on intellectual capital valuation and metrics, as what gets measured, get managed. This study contributes to the intellectual capital literature by providing empirical evidence particularly in a developing economy.

intellectual capital, organisational performance, non-financial companies, profitability