Innovation in Nigerian SMEs: types and impact

This paper seeks to explore the types of innovation that are predominant in SMEs in developing countries and to investigate the impact of these innovations on different dimensions of firm performance based on an industry-wide innovation survey carried out in Nigeria in 2007. Although innovation is important for superior firm performance, our result found that the type of innovation that SMEs pursue is not a critical consideration in their performance. While there was no difference found in the focus of SMEs on either of product or process innovations, evidence showed that SMEs would focus more on incremental product and process innovations. Incremental innovation was found to be very important for Nigerian SMEs and a significant predictor of product quality and not of revenue. The authors conclude that SMEs chooses to pursue such innovations that most fit their strategies and available resources. Such level of innovation affords Nigerian SMEs to more extensively exploit the domestic market but cannot support extensive new product development required to enter export markets.innovation; small and medium enterprises; Nigeria; impact

Variation in Age at First Marriage among Women in Nigeria: A Multilevel Logistic Analysis.

Early marriage is associated with early childbearing particularly in the developing countries which is also related to low status of women, increased fertility rate, and adverse health risks on the mother and child. Multilevel Logistic regression model was applied to data on 3063 women who are married or have lived or are living with sexual partner(s) who participated in the 2005 National AIDS/HIV Reproductive Health Survey in Nigeria. The intercept is estimated as 0.2376 which translates to an expected proportion of 0.56. 41.42% of the variance in age at first marriage is attributed to the state-level. Christian women were found to be 2.26 times more likely to marry at later age other than 17 years compared to their Muslim counterpart. Women in urban areas were 1.44 times more likely to marry early than rural dwellers. Women with Koranic education alone are 43.72% more likely to marry early; women with secondary and higher education are 3.44 and 4.8 times more likely to marry at ages above 17 years compared to women with primary education only. For state-level factors, women from the North-west and North-east zones are 77% and 62% respectively more likely to marry at age less than 18 years compared to women from the North-central. South-east and South-west women are 2.29 and 4.15 times less likely to marry prematurely when compared with women from the North-central. Keywords: Multilevel models, logistic regression, hierarchical, odds, age at first marriage

What Drives Innovation?: Inferences from an Industry-Wide Survey in Nigeria

This chapter 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 firm’s 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 policy makers is that an effectively wired innovation system where all stakeholders are active is critical for firm-level innovation capability.innovation; drivers; manufacturing industry; Nigeria; determinants

Power Generation from Melon Seed Husk Biochar Using Fuel Cell

Melon seed husk (MSH) biochar was used in a single cell direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) as an alternative biofuel. The DCFCs belong to a generation of energy conversion devices that are characterised with higher efficiencies, lower emission of pollutants and MSH biochar as the fuel. Several analytical techniques (proximate, ultimate and thermo-chemical analysis) were employed to analyse the characteristics of the biomass fuel, their effects on the cell’s performance, and the electrochemical reactions between the fuel and the electrolyte in the system. High carbon content and calorific values are some of the parameters responsible for good performances. The performance of a lab-scale DCFC made of ceramic tubes using molten carbonate electrolyte was investigated. Binary carbonates mixture (Na2CO3-K2CO3, 38-62 mol.%) was used as electrolyte and the waste MSH carbonised at 450oC as biofuel. A practical evaluation of the fuel used in the DCFC system was conducted, for varying temperature of 100 - 800oC. The maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) was 0.71 V. With an applied load resistance and active surface area of 5.73 cm2 the maximum power density was 5.50 mWcm-2 and the current density was 29.67 mAcm-2 at 800oC

Genotypic Characterization of Aminoglycoside Resistance Genes from Bacteria Isolates in Selected Municipal Drinking Water Distribution Sources in Southwestern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Multi-drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria could lead to treatment failure of infectious diseases and could be transferred by non-potable water. Few studies have investigated occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) among bacteria including Aminoglycoside Modifying Genes (AMGs) from Drinking Water Distribution Systems (DWDS) in Nigeria. Here, we aimed at characterization of AMGs from DWDS from selected states insouthwestern Nigeria.METHODS: One hundred and eighty one (181) MDR bacteria that had been previously characterized using 16S rDNA and showed resistance to at least one aminoglycoside antibiotic were selected from treated and untreated six water distribution systems in southwestern Nigeria. MDR bacteria were PCR genotyped for three AMGs:aph (3´´)c, ant (3´´)b and aph(6)-1dd.RESULTS: Out of 181 MDR bacteria genotyped, 69(38.12%) tested positive for at least one of the genotyped AMGs. Highest (50, 27.62%) detected gene was ant (3”)c followed by aph (3")c(33,18.23%). Combination of aph(3")c and ant (3")b in a single bacteria was observed as the highest (14, 7.73%) among the detected gene combination. Alcaligenes sp showed the highest (10/20) occurrence of ant (3")b while aph(3")c was the highest detected among Proteussp (11/22). Other bacteria that showed the presence of AMGs include: Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Bordetella, Brevundimonas, Chromobacterium, Klebsiella, Leucobacter, Morganella, Pantoae, Proteus, Providencia, Psychrobacter and Serratia.CONCLUSIONS: High occurrence of ant (3”)c and aph (3”)c among these bacteria call for urgent attention among public health workers, because these genes can be easily disseminated to consumers of these water samples if present on mobile genetic elements like plasmids, integrons and transposons

Micro-credit Facility for Graduates of Vocational and Technical Institutions as a Panacea to Unemployment in Nigeria

Over the time, lack of adequate start-up finance has been identified as one of the most significant barriers to young people seeking to create their own businesses. Infact, it has been observed that the bulk of the problem being encountered by young entrepreneurs is the impaired access to micro credit that can promote establishment of new enterprises and supporting existing ones. Due to their lack of resources, credibility, credit history or collateral, young people are often seen as particularly risky potential clients and therefore face difficulties in accessing finance. The methodological approach adopted in writing this paper was content analysis and after reviewing the prevailing situation, the author observed that vocational and entrepreneurial training alone has not led to and cannot lead to establishment of own business after graduation because it is not only the lack of investable skills and entrepreneurial spirit that is preventing graduates of vocational schools from starting own business after graduation but also unavailability or difficult to access start-up capital. It is therefore suggested that micro lending should be incorporated into vocational education program in order to provide easy to access micro credits for these graduates through micro finance banks for microenterprise development. This will not only ensure that qualified youths with requisite qualification (investable skills and entrepreneurial spirits) have access to such micro credits but also prevent usage of such money for consumption purposes that will lead to no long term benefits. Keywords: Micro-credit Facility, Unemployment, Vocational Institutions Graduate

COMPARATIVE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FIVE BRANDS OF CIPROFLOXACIN SOLD IN LAGOS STATE

he antimicrobial activity of five brands (A, B, C, D and E) of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets commonly sold in Lagos Nigeria, were compared and assessed against susceptible clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serotypetyphi). Susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory concentration test and the bactericidal activity were determined. All sampled brands were within their shelf life. Most (60%) of the sampled brands were made in India while the remaining 40% were made in Nigeria. All the brands complied with the official specification in British Pharmacopeia (BP) for uniformity of weight as they show less than 5% deviation in weight. The mean antibacterial activities of the brands at 25µg/ml were found to be within the range of 38.0mm to 42.2mm zone of inhibition while the MICs range between 0.012µg/ml to 1.5µg/ml.All the sampled brands were effective against all the test organisms to varying degree with brands A and E been more potent while brand D was the least effective. The order of MICs (decreasing order of potency) was D>B>C>A>E for Staphylococcus aureus and D>C>B>E>A for Escherichia coli while that of Salmonella enterica serotypeTyphiwas D>B>C>A>E. The bactericidal activity of each ciprofloxacin brand D and E are concentration-dependent; with brand E more active at all tested concentrations.

Assessment of Growth and Cellulase Production of Wild-Type Microfungi Isolated from Ota, Nigeria

The aim of the study was to isolate and identify filamentous microfnngi involved in wood-waste decomposition in Canaanland, Ota, South-West Nigeria and to evaluate their potentials for cellulose saccharification. Microbiological techniques were used to isolate and identify the ftmgi. Four filamentous microfnngi, identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillusflavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Trichoderma sp., were isolated. All the isolates, particularly Trichoderma sp., grew rapidly on Sabouraud's agar and Czapek-Dox agar. Two of the isolates, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma sp., was cultivated for 168 h by submerged fermentation in modified Czapek-Dox liquid medilllll containing cellulose as sole carbon source and harvested at 24 h intervals. The mycelia weight of the harvested cultures, and the protein content and cellulase activity of the filtrates were determined. The peak mycelia weight of 4.6 and 3.0 mg mL - 1 was, respectively obtained for Trichoderma sp. and A. niger at 48 h. The protein and cellulase activity of Trichoderma sp. peaked at 72 h whereas for A. niger, the peak protein content and peak cellulase activity was obtained at 96 and 72 h, respectively. The peak protein and cellulase activity values of A. niger were 0.175 and 0.077 nnit mL - 1 , respectively. Trichoderma sp. yielded a protein peak of 0.180 mg mL - 1 and peak cellulase activity of 0.108 nnit mL - 1 . There is a correlation between the protein content and cellulase activity of the culture filtrates. The strains of A. niger and Trichoderma sp. obtained from this study are potential tools for the saccharification and bioconversion of cellulosic material

Multilevel Regression Analysis of Age at First Birth

Knowledge about the factors associated with age at first birth plays a major role in controlling the rate of population growth. This paper presents Hierarchical Linear Modeling known for its robustness not only in dealing with hierarchical data structure but also in its ability to explain the effects of the shared variances present in the study on the variable of interest.  Data from 2013 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), collected via a hierarchically clustered sampling scheme were used. It investigated the factors that were thought to be associated with variation in age at first birth among Nigerian women were investigated. The model provided parameter estimates as well as estimates of the random effects variances at all the levels. It was observed that the average age at which a Nigerian woman gives birth to her first child without considering any factor effect is 19 years which is a teenage year. 22% and 18% in the variation of ages at first birth resides in the differences in the states and zones in the country

Physiological responses of cowpea simultaneously exposed to water deficit stress and varying light intensities at vegetative and reproductive growth stages

A combination of stresses as it occurs on the field poses more challenges to crop production than individual stress. Crops’ response to single stress also differs from that of combined stresses. The morpho-physiological responses of two cowpea varieties (IT89KD-288 and IT99K573-1-1) to a combination of stresses (water deficit stress and high light intensity) were investigated at different growth stages. Three levels of light intensities (L3: 259 Lux- 36%, L2: 394 Lux-55% and L1: 710.2 Lux-100%) were imposed using one, two and zero layer(s) of the net, respectively, while, water deficit stress at four levels (W1: no water stress; 0-5 bars, W2: moderate water stress; 5-15 bars, W3: moderately-severe; 15-40 bars and W4: severe water stress; 40 -70 bars) was imposed differently at vegetative and reproductive growth stages. Data were collected on the cowpea yield, Leaf Temperature (LT), Chlorophyll (C), Photosynthesis (P), Stomatal Conductance (SC) and Canopy Transpiration Rate (CTR). Exposure to W4 under L1 considerably reduced cowpea yield by 80% compared to those grown under L3 and full watering. Reduced light intensity enhanced cowpea grain yield irrespective of water deficit stress and IT89KD-288 was superior to IT99K573-1-1. Reduction in light intensity also increased the SC from 55.18 in L1 to 76.88 in 36 % L3. Full light intensity without water stress (100% light intensity), increased C content, while severe water stress reduced the C content and CTR. Photosynthesis was, however, reduced under low light intensity compared to 100% light intensity. It was also observed that water deficit stress imposed at the reproductive stage did not affect P, CTR and SC unlike that of the vegetative stage. In conclusion, reduced light intensity enhanced cowpea tolerance to water deficit and increased yield. Cowpea response was dependent on growth stage, variety and severity of stress