An Overview of Innovation Intensity in the Indigenous Oilfield Services Firms in Nigeria

The study examined the types and intensity of innovations in the indigenous Nigeria's oil and gas servicing sub-sector. The study used primary and secondary data sources, 100 firms were purposefully selected and sampled, focusing on the period between 2001 and 2010. A total of 400 questionnaires were ad min istered of wh ich 70% were returned and found suitable for analysis. The responses were aggregated such that the unit of analysis was the firm. Secondary data were sourced fro m the internet and other published sources. The data so obtained were analy zed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 4 types of innovation that the study examined, o rganizat ional innovation was the most prevalent (46%) while diffusion-based innovation was least (10%). Product and process innovations were implemented, respectively, by 17% and 22% of the firms. Innovation intensity was lo w: only two patents were granted to the firms within the period 2007-2010, level of organizat ional learning was lo w, the nu mber of R&D staff was low while the impact of innovation on firms' performance was expressed in increase in profit, process improvement and new product development. In conclusion, our study found out that the overall innovation capability of the firms was expressed in organizational innovations.