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TRAINING FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT:The Case of
Agricultural Family Schools in Cameroon
By Fonteh Athanasius Amungwa
Coordination Nationale des Ecoles
Familiales Agricoles du Cameroun
and
Francis Menjo Baye
Faculty of Economics and Management
University of Yaounde II, Cameroon
ABSTRACT
This paper recognizes the unemployment problem of school leavers in
Cameroon and sets out to show that the setting up of vocational
establishments in the form of ‘agricultural family schools’ (AFS) to train
youths in agriculture, using the classroom and on-farm approach is an
important vector of rural development. The programme also hopes to
replace the ageing farmer population by training young people to
participate in farming activities. The authors present a framework which
advances the view that neither pure state paternalism or the harsh ups
and downs of a free market economy can improve the standard of living
of rural dwellers. What is required is a system that promotes partnerships
– between the state, private sector, NGOs, civil society, the donor
community, and the rural communities – in the training of youths in
agriculture to improve the asset level and autonomy of the rural poor. The
temptation of regarding the AFS system as a panacea for unemployment
and poverty reduction is resisted, as it is necessary to strengthen other
infrastructures and support services. The author’s main recommendation
points to the need to evaluate AFS within a general strategy for poverty
reduction in the country, and to consider its eligibility for resources
emanating from the highly-indebted poor countries initiative.
GOVERNANCE, POLICIES AND THE GROWTH OF
NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURE
By Gabriel S. Umoh
Department of Agricultural Economics/Extension
University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the performance of the agricultural sector under the
various regimes in Nigeria since independence. Regimes that lasted
longer were found to have had more agricultural policies/programmes.
Higher growth in the agricultural sector was also observed under these
regimes. Results show instability in the growth of agricultural production
arising from political and policy instability. OLS estimation indicates that
average fertilizer price and the exchange rate significantly influence
agricultural growth (P# 0.05, P#0.01, respectively). Findings suggest the
need for political and policy stability in order to achieve sustainable
growth/development of agriculture in Nigeria.
FOUR DECADES OF INDUSTRIALIZATION IN NIGERIA:
A Critical Analysis
By Festus O. Egwaikhide and Olugboyega A. Oyeranti
Department of Economics
University of Ibadan,
Akpan H. Ekpo
Deparment of Economics
University of Uyo and
Olumide S. Ayodele
Department of Economics
University of Calabar
ABSTRACT
This article is a critical review of industrialization in Nigeria. An in-depth
examination of developments in the industrial sector since 1960 is carried
out. Findings reveal that the industrial sector has witnessed structural
changes with the consumer goods sub-sector dominating in line with the
paradigm of import substitution. However, persistent under-utilization of
installed capacity has remained a striking feature of this sector despite
the dramatic shift to export-led industrialization. This is so because there
is heavy dependence on imported raw materials for production, as weak
linkages exist between industry and agriculture. It is therefore argued that
institutional arrangements put in place as well as the various policies
directed at industrialization require urgent reappraisal.
GLOBALIZATION AND THE TRADE
UNION MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA
By Festus Iyayi
Department of Business Administration
University of Benin, Benin City
Nigeria
ABSTRACT
By all accounts globalization has tended to have the greatest impact upon
the working class and its organizations – the trade unions – in
underdeveloped societies. However, while there are discussions of the
macro impact of globalization upon Third World countries, its nature and
consequences for these organizations in the context of the Third World
have not been seriously discussed. The result is that, in the case of
Nigeria at least, trade unions lack an adequate understanding of the
nature, driving forces, strategies and impact of globalization, and how
to manage its demands. This discussion represents an attempt to deal with
these issues from the point of view of the trade union movement in
Nigeria. The paper advances the notion of globalization as the expansion
of an economic, political and cultural practice, which in the modern
period is the practice of capitalism. It also examines the history of the
expansion of this practice from the beginning of capitalism to the modern
period. The strategies that were appropriate to and therefore deployed in
expanding capitalist practice throughout its history are discussed. The
consequences of these strategies and the responses needed to deal with
them by the trade union movement in Nigeria are analysed.. It is
suggested that globalization requires both economic and political
responses from the trade union movement in Nigeria.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION, ESTATES DEVELOPMENT
AND THEIR UTILIZATION PATTERNS FOR INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENT:
The Case of Nigeria
By Olabode O. Alokan
Department of Geography
University of Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Originally, the use of estates as an instrument for the location of
industries was carried out mainly by the Federal Government. Later it
extended to the regions. This took place without the centralization which
could have provided the opportunity to achieve sectoral integration of
industry nationwide, after the initial impetus provided by the central
colonial government, and the harmonization of location choices for
estates and types of industry. Subsequent progress in the formulation of
development plans for the country have emphasized the provision of
infrastructure for a narrow core of industrial projects where there is
substantial participation by the federal government. Through these, the
federal government has made a sizable impact in establishing an
industrial presence at green field locations. Consequently, over the years,
industrial activity has witnessed a dispersal from an initial concentration
in a few nodes. The problem addressed in this paper pertains to where the
provision of estates will make the greatest impact in terms of their
utilization. It explores the link between the provision of infrastructure and
the development of industrial estates. The results of the analysis show a
weak relationship. Privately-developed industrial sites have gained from
the general availability of infrastructure in Nigeria and have become
more important than state governments in determining industrial location
patterns. This, coupled with the spate of administrative restructuring,
road construction nationwide and the emergence of more nodes in the
space economy have led to the dispersal of industries.
TOWARDS A POLITICAL ECONOMY EQUILIBRIUM MODEL
OF LAND REALLOCATION IN
THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA
By Ndiyo N. Ayara
Department of Economics
University of Uyo, Uyo
Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study attempts to develop a formal political-economy model to
explain land reallocation in the Niger Delta belt of Nigeria. We show that
the emergence of a commercial (capitalist) sector which is able to
influence a rent-seeking government, leads to biased (and inefficient) land
reallocation (through expropriation rather than through a land market),
lower wages, and increased poverty among rural dwellers in the Niger
Delta. This accounts for the progressive degradation of the land
resources exploited by the multinational oil companies and the little that
remains in the hands of the rural dwellers, a situation which generates
crises. These findings confirm some stylized facts documented by a large
number of case studies in poor rural communities in less developed
countries.
DEBT OVERHANG AND DEBT RELIEF:
The Case of Nigeria
By Akperan James Adam
Department of Economics
University of Abuja
Abuja
ABSTRACT
The paper investigates the relationship between external debt, growth and
key macroeconomic variables. It examines the role of debt relief in
restoring growth and improving economic performance in Nigeria. The
paper presents an empirical model in the form of a multi-block
simultaneous equation system, using data from 1970 to 1997. The model
which was econometrically estimated and simulated, found that debt
overhang exists in Nigeria and has had a significant effect on growth. The
simulation demonstrates that debt reduction leads to an increase in
investment, economic growth and improvement in macroeconomic
variables. For example, a 25 per cent reduction in debt-service ratio
induce positive impact on investment, employment, consumption, GDP,
etc. A similar result applies to a 25 per cent increase in net debt inflow.
However, a 25 per cent increase in the debt service ratio or a 25 per cent
decrease in net debt inflow produces the opposite result. The paper
submits that debt relief would contribute to increase economic growth,
improved macroeconomic performance and hence, poverty reduction in
Nigeria.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH FACILITY USAGE IN OYO STATE
By Folasade Lillian Ayonrinde
National Centre for Economic Management
and Administration (NCEMA)
Ibadan, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A number of questions have been raised on the efficiency and
effectiveness of users fees which have been introduced in health faclities,
particularly as it relates to its equity consideration. While empirical
evidence on the importance of user fees abounds in developed countries,
very little has been done in developing countries. In spite of the broad
consensus among health workers and policy makers about the importance
of user fees and its effects on health care demand in Nigeria, there is a
dearth of empirical works in this area. This study therefore appraises user
charges, the quality of health care and the demand for modern health
facilities in Nigeria. The main objective of this study is to investigate the
determinants of health facility usage in Nigeria and examine the
relationship between quality of service and the utilization of modern
health facilities in the country. The scope of the study is limited to modern
health facilities (public, private and missionary) in Oyo State, in the cities
of Ibadan, Ibarapa, Saki, Oyo and Ogbomoso. The results indicate that
socio-economic characteristics of individuals like age, gender, and
income, influence choice of health facilities, with individuals having a
clear preference for private health care providers over government health
providers. The policy implications emanating from the study suggest that
the government needs to improve on the quality of service delivery in its
health facilities.
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