AWODELE OLUWASEYI ALABI
Publication
Construction companies are the engines that propel the construction sector of any nation’s economy. This study investigates the personnel training policies of construction companies in south–south Nigeria with a view to assess the qualification profile of staff, identify the training programmes in place in the companies and determine the level of effectiveness of their methods of training. In collecting data for the study, structured questionnaire was used to collect data from two categories of respondents namely the technical and managerial personnel using Simple Random Sampling and Purposive sampling techniques. They were analyzed using the basic descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings reveal among others that there is a disparity in the training policies of most companies regarding both categories of staff and did not favour the technical personnel. On-the-job training is the most effective method of staff development in the companies. The research concludes with a recommendation that government in conjunction with the stakeholders should review the policies of the companies to ensure that adequate provision is made for staff development through workshops and other human development schemes.
Tourism is the fourth largest industry in the global economy. In 2009 the industry was described by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as an industry that helps promote peace and stability in developing countries through its jobs provision, income generation, economy diversification, environment protection and promotion of cross-cultural awareness. However, due to inherent risks in terms of some key issues, in tourism development projects, all efforts made by successive governments in Nigeria to develop this important sector of the economy have yielded few positive results. Although there had been several studies on tourism in developing countries, little is known to exist on managing risk in tourism development projects in Nigeria. The main objective of the paper therefore is to provide better understanding of risk and its management in tourism development in Nigeria. Through a sequential mixed-method approach involving a qualitative/quantitative sequence, this paper reveals that a shortage of infrastructure; poor market demand; immature financial markets; and lack of competent manpower were among the significant risk factors affecting successful development of tourism in Nigeria. The paper also identified effective mitigation measures for these risk factors. It is recommended that every stakeholder involved in tourism development projects must be involved in risk management (i.e. in identifying, analysing, developing responses, and controlling risk). Moreover, risk management should also be integrated with the decision-making processes in managing tourism development projects, as risk management reveals the rationales for making appropriate decisions.
Poverty remains endemic in most developing countries. The disease has eaten so deep into the system of these nations that development, economic growth and sustainable future of the countries, seem a mirage. Investment in infrastructure in these regions therefore is very crucial as infrastructural facilities not only provide basic services to industry and households, but also provide key inputs into the economy. Investment in infrastructure will invariably lead to poverty reduction and aid empowerment of the masses in the face of multiple and conflicting pressures stemming from globalization and public debt problems. Recognising the importance of markets, not only as merely economic institution but also as multi-functional institution associated with several non-economic aspect of any national culture, it is an imperative to review their development in the context of developing nations; particularly so in a developing nation like Nigeria.
A review of the extant literature and careful observation of the situation in the region shows that there is an embrace of Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in the procurement of infrastructures, especially markets. Is PPP the answer to the problem of providing market infrastructure to a developing economy? This question is addressed in this paper. Lessons were learnt from experiences from other developments in other sectors where PPP have been used for infrastructure provision in developing nations and a particular case of market development inNigeriais critically examined. The performance of market projects in the country in term of cost, time and quality were assessed. The paper concludes that PPP arrangement should not be seen as an end in itself but rather as a means to an end. There is need for proper management of the infrastructural facilities procured using the arrangement if the developing countries are to achieve the desired development.
