Adetola Adeoti

Biotechnology R&D partnership for industrial innovation in Nigeria

Abstract This paper presents the result of an exploratory research into the case of biotechnology research activities in Nigeria and the prospects for university–industry partnerships for biotechnology research and development. As in many developing countries, the research findings demonstrated that modern biotechnology research in Nigeria is largely in the area of cell and tissue culture and agrobiotechnology bias. There is however evidence of isolated cases of research in more advanced biotechnology such as recombinant DNA or genetic engineering, bioprocess technologies, bioinformatics, and cell fusion (molecular diagnostics). It is also shown that the most important constraint on biotechnology research is the poor state of research infrastructure, especially the paucity or non-availability of modern biotechnology research equipment. Most researchers (78.9%) in biotechnology however have foreign collaboration, which has helped in reducing the frustration arising from poor research infrastructure. The study also confirmed the notion that, though multinational companies make substantial application of biotechnology, the stages of production carried out by their affiliates in developing countries such as Nigeria make no significant applications of biotechnology.

Easing the burden of fixed telephone lines on small-scale entrepreneurs in Nigeria: GSM lines to the rescue

The study reported in this paper investigated the socio-economic characteristics of the adopters of GSM lines and the factors determining the adoption of GSM lines by small-scale entrepreneurs in a major Nigerian city (Ibadan). The results of the study confirm the widely held notion that the advent of mobile telephony in Nigeria has significantly improved telephone access among the strata of the population that could not afford the relatively expensive and inefficient fixed telephone lines. The relatively lower cost of acquiring GSM lines stands out more than any other factor as the driver of decision to adopt GSM lines by small-scale entrepreneurs. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that factors such as number of apprentices employed, sales turnover, and type of business are also important determinants of the adoption of GSM lines by small-scale entrepreneurs. The parameter estimates of these variables have positive sign and are statistically significant at 1% level. Results also suggest that the relatively new small-scale entrepreneurs are more proactive in the adoption of GSM lines than entrepreneurs that are older in business. In addition, the findings suggest that female small-scale entrepreneurs are generally younger in age though it is unclear whether they are more proactive than their male counterparts in the adoption of GSM lines. Entrepreneurs in service sectors are also more likely to adopt GSM lines than those in manufacturing.

Measurement and Sources of Income Inequality among Rural and Urban Households in Nigeria

Income inequality and poverty are closely related. This study decomposed income inequality in Nigeria using the Gini-decomposition, regression-based and Shapley approaches. Results show that in 2004, income inequality is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. The study also noted that employment income increases inequality while agricultural income decreases inequality. Factors suchs as urbanization, residence in the southwest zone, household size, the house heads formal education, number of time suffered from illness, engagement in a paid job, involvement in a non-farm business, formal credit and informal credit contributed to the increased income inequality. Between 1998 and 2004, income redistribution and income growth increased poverty. The study recommended that welfare enhancing programs that will benefit urban/rural poor should be identified, while better economic opportunities should be created for those in rural areas.

Gender Analysis of the Contribution of Urban Agriculture to Sustainable Livelihoods in Accra, Ghana

This article examines the sustainability of livelihoods through urban agriculture (UA): gender dimensions in Accra, Ghana. The population used for the study was the vegetable producers within and around Accra, Ghana. A mix of sampling techniques was followed in choosing UA producers. While a random sampling technique was employed in choosing male UA producers, all female producers who were willing to be interviewed were chosen. In all, 92 male producers and 8 female producers gave consistent responses that were analyzed. The results show that the mean age for male producers is 39.4 years. Female producers are more elderly with a mean age of 49.8 years. The mean year of schooling is 6.4 years for male producers and 7.1 years for female producers. While all the households are involved in irrigated farming, only 13% male and 25% female managed farms practiced irrigated farming alone. The majority of the male and female farmers indicated that high contribution of urban agriculture to their livelihoods. Farm size and access to credit were significant determinants of income from urban agriculture among the respondents.

The Impact of Treadle Pump Irrigation Technology Adoption on Poverty in Ghana

Abstract Treadle pump (TP) technology has been promoted by Enterprise Works in West Africa as an alternative to the traditional rope and bucket irrigation. The aim is to improve output and incomes and reduce poverty among farm households. This paper reports a short term (two years) assessment of the dynamics of its adoption and impacts, with a special focus on poverty reduction. Data used were from primary surveys of adopters and non-adopters of treadle pumps in two regions of Ghana. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary and production function analysis. The results of the study reveal that time and labor savings for irrigation were the major attractive features of the treadle pump for those who adopted it. The difference in net income between adopters and non-adopters was about US

Child Welfare Deprivation in Rural Nigeria: A Counting Approach

393 per hectare, with an increase in land and labor productivities. About 21% stopped the use of the treadle pump because it broke down, while about 10% shifted to motorized pumping. The study shows that adoption of treadle pumps reduces poverty. It is recommended that increased collaboration with local institutions, such as extension services, will improve the transfer of treadle pump technology to farmers. After-sales service and training of farmers on repairs could reduce treadle pump abandonment. This paper is original as it compares the factors that affect adoption and non-adoption of treadle pumps. It also reveals reasons for abandonment. A multivariate analysis was used to examine the productivity impact of adoption.

Factors Influencing Irrigation Technology Adoption and its Impact on Household Poverty in Ghana

The study applies the counting approach to explain the deprivation concept among children under 5 years of age using the 2008 DHS data. Five dimensions of deprivation were used: safe drinking water, sanitation, housing, health, and nutrition largely recognized in the SDGs. In all, a total of 13561 children were sampled. About half of the children were males with a mean age of 28.27 months old. The assessment of dimensional deprivation showed that children are most deprived in sanitation, health, and access to safe drinking water while they were least deprived in nutrition. The situation is also marked with regional disparities with northern regions reporting higher deprivation rates than the southern regions but this rate was significantly higher in the sanitation dimension across regions. Considering deprivation counts, 33.9% of children suffer from more than three deprivations and approximately 85.2% from at least two deprivations. Child deprivation should be tackled using a holistic approach through social protection programmes to resolve children’s problems in an integrated manner which would in this case be more efficient and effective in safeguarding children’s rights to survival and development. Identifying the children suffering from single and multiple deprivations can help to target the interventions.