African Journal of Science Policy and Innovation Management

Does Learning-by-exporting Affect Manufacturing Competitiveness of Firms in Nigeria?

Olufemi Popoola, Faruq Quadri — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The unimpressive state of the Nigerian manufacturing sector underscores the need for policy actions to improve the performance of the sector. This is reflected by the harsh innovation environment which constrains learning and capability building in the sector. Using firm-level Enterprise Survey Panel Data for 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2015, the study profiles forms of learning available to firms by exporting and investigates manufacturing competitiveness in the sector. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Dynamic Panel Model (DPM) via Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and General Method of Moments (GMM). A Manufacturing Competitiveness Index (MCI) was computed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The competitiveness priorities used to explain firms’ competitiveness are firms’ total costs, quality standards, and goods delivery time. The OLS and GMM estimations show that exporting lagged by one period (t-1) is positive and statistically significant in relationship with competitiveness. Learning-by-exporting is positively associated with competitive performance of firms and the lagged learning variables (skill, technology and training) were positive but not statistically significant for the OLS estimation. However, training was positive in the GMM estimates. These results imply that manufacturing firms in Nigeria are not competitive because they are not learning substantially. The findings also provide evidence that the sector is still less competitive in priority areas of quality, costs of operation, and delivery time.

Modular Refinery Critical Infrastructure Investment in Nigeria: A Strategic Project Planning Assessment

Ibikunle Ogundari — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined strategic project parameters for a modular refinery critical infrastructure investment in Nigeria. Technological and project economic data for the modular refinery alternative were obtained and the Technology Foresight Analysis (TFA) methodology was used. The results indicated total oil energy consumption from 2019–30 to be 13.55 Quadrillion BTU. The selected 30,000 barrel/day modular refinery plant (MRP) had estimated costs of N159.59 billion, throughput of 7.2 million barrels/year and requiring 30 acres of land for construction. Initial investment was N 193.87 billion, with estimated annual net profits of N 70.62 billion. Profitability indices showed Net Present Values of N 3,022 billion, payback period of 2 years 9 months, and Annual Return on Investment of 36.4%. The study concluded that the modular refinery infrastructure investment in Nigeria was technically and economically viable, and recommended its implementation.

Digital Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Millennials in the Fourth Industrial Revolution In Southwest Nigeria

Abolaji Dada — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the Digital Entrepreneurial Behaviour (DEBs) of the Nigerian Millennial and makes conceptual contributions to the literature on how their digital entrepreneurial conduct influences the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in Southwest Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design targeting the population of Millennials across the six States in Southwest Nigeria. A total of 900 Millennial-technopreneurs who are engaged in Digitally-based Enterprises (DBEs) were sampled in the States using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The study revealed that the majority (91.67%) of the Millennials possessed thorough knowledge of Innovative Digital Technologies (IDTs) with 61.32% engaged in DBEs. The DBEs are cloud computing, data analytics, machine learning, mobile development, data visualisation, FinTech, blockchain technology, software development, data engineering, cyber security and internet-of-things (IoT) which are acknowledged to be the building blocks of the fourth industrial revolution. The study further reveals that the factors that influence the engagement of the Millennial in DBEs were entrepreneurial alertness, personal exploits, business innovation competitions/innovation challenge programmes, attendance at seminars and workshops and enterprise innovation foundations. All these factors contribute 74.1% (R²value of 0.741) to the Millennial’s engagement in DBEs. The study concludes that the knowledge and entrepreneurial behaviours of the Nigerian Millennial in DBEs is relatively high with potentials for 4IR in Nigeria. The paper discusses the policy implications of the findings and implications for future research on 4IR in Nigeria.

An Exploratory Study of the Message System in the Public Transportation Sector in Nigeria: Potentials as a Low-carbon Bottom-up Social Innovation

Olawale Adejuwon, Chinwe Onwudiegwu, Ibikunle Ogundari — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Bottom-up social innovations are being used in the transportation sector with unintended outcomes for carbon emission reducing potentials. Activists and policy makers have called for studies on the potentials of such innovations in reducing carbon emissions to aid policy recommendations. This study explores the potentials of such an innovation in the transport sector in Nigeria of reducing carbon emissions. Called Message by users, this social innovation is used like an informal courier service to deliver items of trade, documents and medicine among others using the public transportation system. This social innovation saves users costs of transporting the items themselves using public or private transportation or formal courier services. Data on number of Messages sent was collected by personal observation at a public transport terminal for Ikeja bound passengers from Ile-Ife (towns in southwestern Nigeria) for seven days. Ninety-four Messages consisting of 106 items were observed to be sent at the terminal using the Message system during the period. Two scenarios that may lead to savings in carbon emissions were highlighted in the study; the first, if the sender boards a public transportation vehicle to deliver the item and the second, if private transportation was used rather than the Message system. The round-trip distance for the two options was estimated to be 400 Km. A six-passenger 2-litre engine public transportation vehicle which consumes an estimated 9L/100 Km was assumed for the study. The results showed that for the first scenario, 1,297.2 Kg CO₂will be produced and 7783.2 Kg CO₂for the second scenario if senders had used these alternatives other than the message system for the 94 Messages. The study concludes that the Message can be regarded as a Low-carbon Bottom-up social innovation and recommends public and/or private efforts to scale-up this innovation in other climes.

Modelling the Effects of Manpower Training and Development on Employee Performance: A Case of Bank Employees in Nigeria

Adeyemi Binuyo, Dorcas Babatunde, Gbonjubola Binuyo, Rita Nmah — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, a statistical analysis and the formulation of a mathematical model equation of the effects of manpower training and development on employee efficiency and performance were carried out. These were done to show the effects of providing adequate information and necessary instructions to employees through seminars, workshops and conferences among others on how to better perform tasks. Using the Nigerian banking industry as a case study, data were collected through a set of questionnaire administered on bank employees of selected banks in Nigeria. Multiple regression and descriptive statistics were employed for the analysis and the formulation of the mathematical model equation. From the analysis, the result shows significant positive effects of training and development on employee’s performance. Furthermore, the result indicates that an increase in training and development will yield a corresponding increase in employee’s performance. The study concludes that, effective and consistent training and development will serve as a great benefit to banking organizations as human resources and capabilities will be highly utilized.