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Despite the extensive literature on rural poverty outcome, the labour employment channel has not been carefully investigated for rural Nigeria. The paper used the socioeconomic data from the three waves of the Nigerian General Household Survey Panel (2010/2011, 2012/3013 and 2015/2016 to examine the nature of household employment. By exploiting the panel nature of the data, we used a logit model and fixed effect approach to analyze the factors determining the employment expansion and earnings. From the descriptive statistics, agricultural employment sectoral share remains substantial but declined over the period considered. The study finds that much of the employment in rural Nigeria during the period 2010 to 2015 is farm self-employment. Though declining, it is two times the non-farm employment share and five times wage employment share. Wage employment is least and declining during the period covered. Findings from the econometric analysis suggest rural programmes that promote rural infrastructural, human capital development, networking, higher income and the diversity of income. It is an imperative policy goal to create an enabling environment for productivity and employment-intensive growth across all sectors of the economy particularly in agriculture.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current efforts at structural transformation (ST) in Africa aim to remove the negative impacts of external shock and the weak linkages of the economy with the resource sector as well as eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development. Based on the compelling need for sustainable, inclusive and pro-poor development, this paper examines the role and place of building and integration of agricultural value chains (AVCs) in Africa using Nigeria as a case study. It pays very close attention to the production structure and challenges confronting ST in Africa and the case study country. Lessons from selected economies with respect to the part played by AVCs in their ST are drawn such as the need to be sequential and experimental in approach, strategic coordination, monitoring and evaluation of markets, and more active involvement of research institutes in AVC development activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rostow's Growth Theory identifies five stages of growth a nation must go through in the process of structural transformation. Nigeria has maintained a remarkable growth rate of an average of about 7 per cent with a high potential for further growth. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was estimated at 6.23 per cent in 2014 compared to 5.49 per cent in 2013. However, the rebasing of the nation's GDP in April 2014 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made the nation to be the largest economy in Africa with a rebased GDP estimate of USD 454 billion in 2012 and USD 510 billion in 2013. This rebasing revealed that the Nigerian economy is transforming from an agrarian economy to a tertiary service economy without going through the immediate stages of industrialization. Renowned researchers have proved that "economic development is economic growth plus structural transformation". This means that GDP growth accompanied by reduction in the share of primary production (mainly agriculture) and increase in share of secondary production (mainly manufacturing) and subsequently tertiary (modern technology and knowledge intensive services) activities in total GDP is indicative of economic development. Adopting descriptive statistical analytical tools applied to time series data spanning 1991 to 2017, this paper examines the extent of applicability of the Rostow's growth theory to structural transformation and attainment of economic development in Nigeria. The paper confirms the Nigerian economy is transforming from an agrarian economy to a tertiary service economy without going through the immediate stages of industrialization. It proceeds to recommend the introduction of a well-endowed human capital base which would enhance the output performance of the manufacturing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural development faces serious challenges in Nigeria. Discovery of petroleum in commercial quantity in the early 1970s appears to have retarded output growth in the sector because there was a shift from agriculture to oil and gas. Therefore, the country has gone through quite a variety of ordeal in food production since the oil boom era. Government has formulated policies and programmes to address the performance of agriculture. It appears many of these efforts have failed resulting in large scale food imports and consequent adverse balance of payments. With the aim to devise a path to output growth, steps to attain value chain are examined in this paper having reviewed previous studies. Descriptive method is employed to achieve the study's objectives. It is revealed, among others issues, that value chain is required in the agricultural sector. However, it necessitates transformation of farmers from peasantry to commercial farming which will require human capital development in agriculture. Some complementary factors like infrastructure and extension services are needed. Save farm land are to be guaranteed by the states and communities. It is suggested that government participation is needed significantly to attain value chain in agriculture in Nigeria because government appears to be the major resource owner since independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]