Rough Road to Market: Institutional Barriers to Innovations in Africa

Translating R&D and inventive efforts into a market product is characterized by significant financial skills, and the ability to overcome technical and instititonal barriers. Research into and translation of new technologies such as biotechnology products to the market requires even greater resources. This paper aims to understand the key factors that foster or hinder the complex process of translating R&D efforts into innovative products. Different pathways exist in developed countries such as firm-level efforts, the use of IPs, the spin-off of new firms that develop new products, or a mixture of these. Developing countries differ substantially in the kinds of instruments they use because of their considerably weaker institutional environment and for this reason our framework takes a systemic and institutional perspective. The paper comtributes to this issue by examining systemic institutional barriers to commercializing biotechnology in a develping context within a systems of innovation framework.research and development, biotechnology, commercialization, innovation, Africa, learning, institution building

Fuel and Physiochemical Properties of Mango (Mangifera indica) Seed Biodiesel and Its Blends with Diesel

The aim of this work is to measure the fuel properties of mango seed biodiesel and its blends with diesel fuel. The oil was extracted by soxhlet extraction method the high Free Fatty Acid ( FFA) value of the oil produced necessitated, acid pretreatment prior to base transesterification with methanol using sodium hydroxide as catalyst which resulted into a considerable reduction of the FFA value from 3.3% to 0.9% and a biodiesel yield of 25.84%. The produced biodiesel was washed, dried and blended 10% (B10) 20% (B20) and 30% (B30) with diesel. They were evaluated following the ASTM and EN protocols. The result obtained shows that the kinematic viscosity at 40ranges between 2.86 and 4.32 cts, flash point ranges between 73 and 145 with the acid number ranging between o.445 and 0.558 mgKOH/g. Other results shows that the biodiesel and its blend have fatty acid of between 0.182 and 0.211 with the carbon residue of between 0.05 and 0.09% the properties of the biodiesel and its blend are close to those of diesel and can thus be used as alternative fuel for diesel engine

Bioconversion of mixed fruit waste as a potential source of biogas and organic fertilizer

This paper investigates the bioconversion of mixed fruit waste as a potential source of biogas and organic fertilizer. The pH of digester liquid, influent and effluent, temperature of gas production volume were observed. In addition to this, TS and VS of the manure before and after digestion were determined. The TS/VS lost in fermenter and efficiencies of VS conversion to gas was also monitored at the end of the study. The study also shows that residue left after the production of biogas is a valuable organic fertilizer that can be used as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer in maize production and soil fertility. Yield of maize was significantly increased over that of the control. Markedly influenced by the application of organo-minerals, NPK fertilizer and their combination as observed from the increased plant height, diameter of plant stem, leaf area and Weight of 1000 kernels compared to the control. Biogas residue has therefore proved to be environmentally friendly and an effective fertilizer. The use of locally available, nutrient rich organic sources is an effective means for improving soil fertility and increasing crop yield in view of the escalating cost of inorganic fertilizers and low fertilizer use efficiency of crops

Learning in Local Systems and Global Links: The Otigba Computer Hardware Cluster in Nigeria

Conventional wisdom suggests to the fact that poor countries are unlikely to be host to a “high-technology” sector and doing so within the organization of small and medium enterprises. This paper examines an unusual phenomenon of industrial organization in an African setting; the emergence of a cluster of an information technology hardware cluster in a very late industrializing country, Nigeria. The evolution of the Otigba Computer Hardware Village (OCV) in Lagos, Nigeria has proceeded largely without direct support from the state and indeed within a decidedly hostile institutional and arid infrastructural environment. Yet the cluster has thrived, thus far, with institutional support of a local trade and manufacturing association. The study holds important lessons for late industrializing countries entering into a knowledge intensive sector.learning, innovation system, computer hardware, clusters

Industrialization Pathways to Human Development: Industrial Clusters, Institutions and Poverty in Nigeria

Industrial cluster literature has traditionally focused on work-place upgrading, clusters' ability to promote firm productivity, economic growth, and benefits that firm owners can or will give to workers. However, even in growing, productive clusters, such a work-place focus leaves out questions about how to situate the contribution of the firm and cluster in improving living standards in the wider socio-economic and spatial context of the region. By providing a systematic examination of the relationship between industrial clusters and poverty analyzed within a multidimensional frame, this dissertation attempts to close this bridge. It asks under what conditions firms in productive clusters pass on benefits to workers in ways that improve their living standards, even when they are not required by law to do so. Three hypotheses are put forward. First, firms in their own interest boost worker productivity by providing certain kinds of work-place benefits such as overall capability, proxied by various types of internal technological knowledge and skills. Second, firms choose not to give other place-based and work-based benefits like health or housing because social policies do not demand it and it has no direct benefit to the firm. Third, firms pass on these benefits because it costs little, and tends to deepen employee loyalty. The study analyses the case of the Otigba Information and Communications Technology cluster in Lagos, Nigeria and uses survey questionnaires, interviews, and archival research. Results confirm that clustering promotes not just firm-level productivity as literature on agglomeration economy highlights, but also raises workers' living standards compared to non-clustered firms in the same sector. Older employees, and those with prior experience in other firms report improvements in their living standards since working in their firms. Furthermore, firms in the cluster give a diverse number of non-income benefits such as housing, health insurance, feeding and transportation allowance, training, child care, funding for further education, pension and company products, based on the length of service in the firm, age of employee, and size of the firm. Additionally, while formal state-supported social protection institutions are largely absent, monetary and non-monetary benefits such as employment, provision of skills through apprenticeships, housing, transportation, and feeding allowance are channeled to employees through firms and informal institutions based on social and kinship ties. A high level of horizontal and collective cooperation based on professional lines has also emerged within the cluster in the absence of formal state institutions. The dissertation makes a theoretical contribution by bridging studies on industrial clusters with those on social protection policy instruments. The study gives greater evidence to the diversity of social protection available, as well as the opportunity for economic development planners to explore ways in which firm-driven social protection can be integrated into social policy

THE STUDY OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MONTMORILLONITE CLAY POLYESTER NANO-COMPOSITE

Montmorillonite clay polyester nano composite were successfully prepared by melt insertion method at 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, 20wt% and 25wt% of Montmorillonite clay. The electrical and mechanical properties of the produced composites were studied. Five specimens for each test was analysed. Results obtained indicates that while a drastic decrease in the impact energy of 100 was observed, the maximum tensile strength and young’s modulus values of 50.27 MPa and 8.7 GPa respectively were obtained at 10% filler concentration. The compressive strength increases by 48% and 100% at 15wt% and 20wt% filler concentration respectively. An increase in dielectric strength ( 100%) and capacitance (32%) of the samples with each filler addition of up to 25% with 3 times increase in hardness at 25wt%. was observed

Comparative analyses of three radiographic dental age estimation methods amongst Nigerians

Background: Age estimation is a critical step in constructing biological  profiles from human skeletal remains. This study aimed to compare three radiographic methods of age estimation with tested validity in different populations for accuracy and applicability in forensic investigations amongst Nigerians.Methods: This was a retrospective study of panoramic radiographs  (Planmeca Romexis®) captured from 46 young Nigerian patients between ages 6 to 21 years in a Federal Tertiary Health Institution in Southwest Nigeria between July and December, 2017. Parameters on the panoramic radiographs were measured and scored based on Demirjian, Cameriere and Kvaal radiographic dental age estimation methods. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20 at p<0.05.Result and Conclusion: There was no significant difference between  chronological ages and estimated ages of subjects considering Demirjian and Cameriere methods, but there was a significant age difference when Kvaal method was used (p>0.5). Demirjian method was found to be strongly correlated with chronological age (rs = 0.763); Cameriere method moderately correlated (rs = 0.684) and Kvaal method weakly correlated (rs = 0.476). Demirjian method showed the strongest direct relationship (R² = 0.56) followed by Cameriere (R² = 0.44) and Kvaal method (R² = 0.22). Demirjian system was the only significant predictor of the chronological age of Nigerian subjects using multiple linear regression.Keyword: Age estimation, Demirjian, Kvaal, Cameriere, Nigeri

Characterization of Briquette Produced from Tannery Solid Waste

Skin processing produces large volumes of wastes, much of which are not utilized but disposed in the landfill. This study explored the possibility of producing briquettes from tannery waste that could be used for heating purposes for cottage factories and domestic cooking. Wastes studied are buffing dust, chrome shavings, fleshing, and hair. The briquette properties tested were moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon content, calorific value, compressive strength, density and durability. The moisture content of the raw materials ranged between 2.04 and 8.37% while the moisture content of the produced briquettes after 19 days of drying ranges between 1.17 and 4.13%. The volatile matter also decreases while the ash content increases after briquetting. The fixed carbon content ranges 73.79 and 93.23%. The heating values of the briquettes also showed a great increased after briquetting of between 19.82 and 21.86 MJ/kg. The compressive strength ranges between 0.17 and 0.21 kN/cm2, the durability ranges between 97.83 and 99.54%. The maximum densities of the briquettes also meet the required specifications of minimum value of 600 kg/m3. The briquettes produced also possess good qualities that make tannery solid waste a materials for production of briquettes for heating and in cottage industrie

Investigating the Performance and Combustion Characteristics of Composite Bio-coal Briquette

The awareness of the negative impact to environment due to deforestation, desertification and greenhouse emissions have led to finding alternative energy sources to traditional resources. In this work, briquettes of coal and banana waste (leave and pseudostem) were produced with calcium hydroxide as the desulphurizing agent while starch was used as the binder. Briquettes of varied biomass concentrations were produced by mixing the coal and banana leave and coal and banana pseudostem at various composition ratios by weight; (100: 0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40). The briquettes were produced mechanically using a manual briquetting machine with pressure maintained at 7MPa. The results of the proximate analysis showed that the moisture content, volatile matter and ash content of the composites briquettes ranges between 6.74 and 9.36%, 25.25 to 39.78% and 6.25 to 8.75% respectively. The carbon content, porosity index, calorific value, ignition time, combustion rate and thermal efficiency of the composite briquettes ranges between 54.16 to 76.32%, 23.42 and 44.48%, 31.62 to 31.43 MJ/kg, 57.24 to 180.96 seconds, 0.035 to 0.083 g/min and 12.73 to 15.63% respectively. The higher calorific value and the lower volatile matter of the composite briquettes in compare with biomass briquettes make them more favorable as a solid fuel. However, the optimum biomass concentration for improving the cooking efficiency is at 35% banana waste