This study examines the resilience of indigenous economic institutions in Nigeria under structural adjustment and subsequent economic transformations between 1986 and 2025. It investigates how indigenous savings associations, cooperative societies, age-grade systems, kinship networks, and community-based credit arrangements adapted to economic liberalisation, financial instability, unemployment, and changing patterns of entrepreneurship. The study situates these institutions within Nigeria’s broader economic history, particularly the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986 and subsequent market-oriented reforms. It adopts the historical research method, relying on documentary and secondary sources, including government publications, policy documents, official economic reports, scholarly books, and peer-reviewed journal articles. These sources are critically examined to establish patterns of institutional continuity, adaptation, and transformation throughout the period. The study investigates how indigenous economic institutions facilitated informal credit, mobilised community resources, supported small-scale enterprises, and helped households respond to economic pressures. It argues that their persistence reflects not merely resistance to economic change but also their capacity to adapt to evolving socioeconomic conditions and complement formal financial institutions. Nevertheless, limited capital, regulatory constraints, accountability challenges, and technological changes have affected their effectiveness. The study recommends policies that recognise indigenous economic institutions, strengthen their organisational capacity, and encourage appropriate collaboration with formal financial systems. It contributes to Nigerian economic history by highlighting the significance of indigenous institutions in understanding economic resilience and development.