Willie O. Siyanbola

What drives innovation? Inferences from an industry-wide survey in Nigeria

This paper seeks to make some contributions to the literature on firm-level innovation in Africa by attempting to identify the significant factors that explain the capability of firms in Nigeria to innovate using the results of an industry-wide study. We focused on the product and process innovation activities of firms between 2003 and 2006 and found differences in the factors that drive them at the firm level. Our results further show that interactions matter more than most innovation-related variables and that the most important actors that influence a firms innovation efforts are its customers and suppliers. We conclude that product and process innovations are not mutually exclusive and that a major key to successful innovation is how and with whom a firm collaborates. The implication of this for firms and policymakers is that an effectively wired innovation system where all stakeholders are active is critical for firm-level innovation capability.

SMEs funding: an assessment of an intervention scheme in Nigeria

This study evaluates the impact of the Small and Medium Enterprises Equity Investment Scheme (SMEEIS) on the growth of Nigerian SMEs. Questionnaires and interviews were used to sample firms and commercial banks in Lagos, an industrially active environment. Uncoordinated business plans and poorly packaged projects were found to be the most significant reasons why SMEs could not access funds from the scheme. Although the scheme had been helpful to some SMEs, most of them were not aware of its activities and potentials. Operators of the scheme should therefore make efforts to further create awareness and educate the entrepreneurs.

Assessment of e-governance resource use in south-western Nigeria

Several assessment studies on penetration and adoption of computer and the internet have shown that these tools are beginning to change the way citizens interact with one another and also with their governments and vice-versa [1]. An assessment from two states in the South Western part of Nigeria regarding the awareness, use and sustainability of e-Governance in Nigeria was carried out. The perspectives of the government staff as well as other users (non-government staff) were assessed. It was found that 68% of both government employees (GE) and non-government employees (NGEs) are aware of e-Governance in the states, and the governments have achieved this high rate of awareness by means of mass media (30%). Computer literacy amongst employees is put at 19 users out of every 20, and 52% of those that are computer literate have over 3yrs experience in using the computer. Also, 76.6% are reported to have access to the Internet and only 31.3% of those that have access to the Internet have access points in their offices. Proficiency about the use of e-Governance resources was also tested, it was found that about 50% of the users are proficient and about 35% of them use the Internet on a daily basis. Challenges about the e-Governance resource were also discussed and appropriate policy directions are advanced for a better use and its sustainability.

On the capability of SMEs to innovate: the cable and wire manufacturing subsector in Nigeria

This study explored the factors that explain innovation capability in SMEs in developing countries. This is important given the increasing global pressures that these SMEs have to face. The data employed came from a survey of Cable and Wire manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The important factors that accounted for innovation performance were firm-level leadership and use of new technologies – particularly ICTs. Important external factors included interactions with customers and suppliers of equipment/raw materials. Particularly, the industry association was about the most significant driver of innovativeness. We therefore conclude that it is beneficial for industries in developing countries to be well-organised as a means to achieving improved innovation capability.

The types and intensity of innovation in developing country SMEs: evidences from a Nigerian subsectoral study

Understanding the types of innovations that SMEs currently undertake, and their commitment to innovation, is especially useful for policy making in developing countries. This paper, therefore, addressed two main questions: What types of innovation occur in SMEs? How intense is innovation in SMEs? We have used empirical information from a census carried out in the Nigerian cable and wire manufacturing industry. Questionnaire and interviews were the primary means of data collection and the data covered the four-year period between 2003 and 2007. We found a high prevalence of organisational innovation and low prevalence of diffusion-based innovation. Innovation intensity was low at 0.114% per capita training investment. Interestingly, our findings revealed that process and marketing innovation accompanied each other. We conclude that SMEs in developing countries are not innovation-inactive and that they would do better if industries are well organised and firms make higher investments in learning and capability build-up.

Knowledge Sharing and Innovation as it affects the Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria

This study assessed the factors hampering innovation and knowledge sharing in indigenous oil and gas firms in Nigeria. The aim was to provide information that will increase knowledge sharing among the indigenous in the sector and create added value, which is needed to improve the local content within the industry. The study used primary and secondary data sources. One hundred firms were sampled. A structured questionnaire was administered to the firms. This was supplemented with field observations and interviews. A total of 100 questionnaires were administered to heads of production and engineering departments in the firms with a 70% response rate. Secondary data were obtained from published sources. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study found that the challenge of innovation centred on high costs, lack of skilled personnel, especially in their R&D departments and poor economic conditions in the country. However, an estimated 30% of the firms were innovation active in the period 2001 to 2010. The reasons why these firms innovated were to take advantage of new technology, lower production costs and to stake out market position while competing with their foreign counterparts. The study also found that the principal initiators of innovation in the firms included information from the parent firm (for those that operated as subsidiaries), competitors, clients/customers and suppliers. The study concluded by providing policy recommendations that would increase indigenous participation in the industry while stating clearly what roles the industry, government and academia will play to achieve Nigerias desired local content status.

Learning to innovate in Nigeria's cable and wire manufacturing subsector: inferences from a firm-level case study

Firm performance is known to be connected to firm-level innovation capability. Innovation capability, in turn, is an output of technological learning. This paper evaluates technological learning among firms in the cable and wire manufacturing subsector in Nigeria, using a case firm. We developed a model of the relationship between the innovative activities of the firm – as evidence of its capability – and its knowledge acquisition methodology. These are discussed within the context of the firms stock of human capital. We found low technological innovation capability and high capability for organisational and marketing innovation. Preparedness for technological learning is relatively poor with a staff training intensity of 5% and an innovation intensity of 0.0075%. We therefore propose stronger interconnectedness between the National Innovation System and the creation of industry-specific structures that could enhance learning.

Determinants of entrepreneurial propensity of Nigerian undergraduates: an empirical assessment

The specific factors that influence the entrepreneurial inclination of students were studied with a view to designing appropriate policies on entrepreneurship within tertiary institutions. The sample for the study consisted of 7,560 students from a total of 25 tertiary institutions with 83% response rate. While we found that entrepreneurial interest among Nigerian students is quite high, the expression of this interest in practice is rather low. The main factors found to significantly explain entrepreneurial interest are parents‟ educational qualifications, family entrepreneurial history, family socio-demographics, students‟ entrepreneurial experience, and students‟ socio-demographics. Of the fourteen variables identified as being central in encouraging students‟ entrepreneurial interests, only five can be defined as necessary, though but not sufficient, conditions to stimulate interest: gender, number of children by father, position among mothers children, fathers monthly income and entrepreneurial education. This has policy implications both for government and the institutions. The study is the first of its magnitude in Nigeria and provides baseline information for researchers and policy makers who need to better understand the dynamics of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth.

Managing Science and Technology Occupations of Women in Nigeria

The study examined the occupational activities of female graduates in science and technology related fields with a view to assessing factors influencing their performance and make recommendations to enhance women work experiences in S&T occupations. The data for the study was collected through questionnaire and interview schedule from a sample of 2110 respondents comprising of employed female Science and Technology (S&T) graduates and heads of departments in tertiary institutions and S&T firms in Nigeria. The study reveal that most female S&T graduates (FSTGs) employed in tertiary institutions and research institutions were engaged in S&T based occupations. However, in corporate firms, most of the FSTGs work either in administration, finance or R&D departments. In addition, a large proportion takes less paying non S&T jobs for domestic reasons and lack of suitable vacancies. This suggests gross under-utilization of human resource. Some S&T organizations did not have any female working in S&T departments. Recommendations were made to enhance the recruitment, retention and performance of women in S&T employment in Nigeria.

Technological Analysis of Sustainable Biofuels Development in Nigeria

Nigeria’s biofuel policy calls for 10% bioethanol and 20% biodiesel substitution in domestic petrol and diesel consumptions of 35 million and 12 million litres per day respectively. Although the policy was approved in 2005, after six years, a vibrant biofuels industry has not taken off in the country. In this paper, using strategic analysis approach, we determined the key technological impediments to biofuel industry development in Nigeria to be inadequate knowledge on feedstock and landmass requirements, the “food vs fuel” debate, fuel subsidy implications, indifference and low market confidence by investors, limited S&T human capability, poor funding, weak institutional framework and poor infrastructure provision. We have established that Nigeria’s total biofuel production at highest demand by 2020 (11.64 Million Tons) would require 51.8 Million Tons of feedstock comprising 48.44 Million Tons of cassava for bioethanol and 3.36 Million Tons of Jatropha curcas for biodiesel. This production demand would require 57.5 Thousand Sq. Km of land. This is less than 8% and 20% of the arable land (726 Thousand Sq. Km) or cultivated land (340 Thousand Sq. Km) in Nigeria respectively. Hence the food vs fuel fears were deemed unnecessary. We argue that the N1.2 trillion (US