Nigerian innovation survey data, collected with NEPAD support, prepared with PEDL funding by Abiodun Egbetokun

ABSTRACT The pooled cross-sectional dataset (1359 firms in total) available for download has some specific features:

* The dataset includes data from wave 1 (2005-2007) and wave 2 (2008-2010) of the Nigerian innovation surveys.
* The year variable identifies the different survey waves. Wave 1 was completed in 2008 and wave 2, in 2011.
* The service variable sorts the observations broadly into manufacturing and services.
* The id variable identifies each unique firm. Repeatedness was ignored because repeated cases are only about 2.5%.
* As much as possible, variables have been matched across the two waves.
* Due to coding changes and some inconsistencies in the survey instrument, a few variables could not be matched.
* Any variable that could not be matched is retained in its original form.
* Some of the variables have notes attached to them. The notes are consistent with what is in the accompanying codebook.xls
* Item numbering on the questionnaire for the two waves are not consistent. Thus, rather than use question numbers for variable names – as is commonly done – intuitive variable names and labels (defined in detail in the accompanying codebook.xls) are used. Read more: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/280742283_Nigerian_innovation_survey_data_collected_with_NEPAD_support_prepared_with_PEDL_funding?channel=doi&linkId=55c5261308aebc967df38875&showFulltext=true

Who Wants to be an Entrepreneur and Why? A Study of Highly Educated Young Nigerians - A project by Caleb Adelowo and others

This project focuses on the question of how to increase the supply of high quality entrepreneurs in Nigeria. It aims to quantify and explore the link between entrepreneurial interest and practice, and to provide data and insights on the profile and motivations of potential entrepreneurs. The researchers use several rounds of a large-scale survey of 47,560 undergraduate students enrolled in Nigerian tertiary institutions, gathering data on entrepreneurial interest, business ownership, and personal characteristics. We then analyse the extent to which students who expressed an interest in entrepreneurship were indeed more likely to start a business, and examines how other personal characteristics, such as gender, shape the link between entrepreneurial interest and practice.

Given that highly educated entrepreneurs tend to become better managers than the uneducated ones, it is important to identify the factors responsible for translating an interest in business into actual entrepreneurial practice. By analysis new data on the traits and motivations of potential and actual entrepreneurs in Nigeria, this project will identify such factors, which should help design targeted policy interventions to increase the supply of high quality entrepreneurs. Read more about this project here

Source: http://www.egbetokun.com/ongoing-projects/whowantstobeanentrepreneurandwhyastudyofhighlyeducatedyoungnigerians

"FAYOSE WAS A DANFO DRIVER, NO WONDER" by Akogun Itunulevi Akorede

Africans, especially the great people of Yoruba nation believe that nothing or nobody is useless. Everything has a value it serves in the society.

Governor Ayodele Fayose attended a function organized by the Nigerian union of road transport workers, the Ekiti state branch and there he stood gracefully with his ever outspoken attitude to admonish the people present there. He told them about how he went from hustling as a driver and student in the city of Ibadan and how God took him out of struggling for bread etc. Today he is the executive governor of my darling state of origin. But his success isn't why I am here to address but the fact that people came out to twist the talk he gave at the event. The book of Eclesiastics 10:7 has this to say "I have seen princes walking like slaves and I have seen slaves riding on horseback". I have always known that deligence and the favor of the most high God makes one a success. One can inherit the entire loot of Sani Abacha combined with the wealth of Bill Gates , when success isn't speaking, it's vanity. I expected the press who allowed themselves to twist the report to use the same mind which Fayose intended to pass the message of hope that saturated that talk to all and sundry.

I want to do what they didn't do. Nobody is destroyed beyond repairs, if Ayodele Fayose the driver of yesteryears is a loved Governor of today, nothing can stop your shine if you decide to succeed. A guy walked stood at the entrance of our church one teusday evening and I told him to come in but he said no, I asked him why, his response struck me " I am dirty", I just got released from the penitentiary, he requested for a bible which I gave him. There are many who need new hope for a new beginning, a new life. I am a very ambitious and focused gentleman, that's if I am one, but Fayose ' s testament gave me a crazy fire that you can get to any level you dream of if you don't give up or think less of yourself. There are many children of nobody of yesterday who are great people of today. Who was the father of Obasanjo, Tinubu, Jonathan etc, who ever knew that with the high number of quality professionals from ijeshaland, it's aregbesola that God will honor to be the governor of such great state? If Fayose talks crazy during the election period, every Nigerian understands that name calling is a part of our immature politics, it happens even in the Universities during students union election. But that doesn't reduce the quality of his testimony.

Think big, dream great, you can achieve anything you desire and work towards. I didn't see holiganism in Fayose ' s message to the drivers' union rather I see a fresh hope for everyone that's still breathing.

We can't all become governors or government officials but you can make your success sound loud all over the world. If you have not listened to the message from fayose, please it may be what is needed to encourage you not to quit as you are planning. Quiters don't have stories of conquest, they only hide their heads when conquerors come boasting. Punch reporter thanks for giving me something to write about.

Akogun Itunulevi Akorede

Dallas, Texas

08/03/2015

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author's and not of this blog.