Characteristics and Trends in Nigeria’s Industrial Development: The Example of Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluates characteristics and trends in industrial development in the context of emerging structures and their regional planning implications in Ondo state. Some 395 manufacturing enterprises were interviewed and data collected analysed using descriptive methods. The study establishes that manufacturing enterprises account for about six per cent of all economic activities in the state with industries employing between one to six people constituting over half of total employment. The study identifies the dominance of small-scale industries, especially informal enterprises, accounting for about 92 per cent of the enterprises and dominated by food processing firms that are overwhelmingly urban based. The study posits that the cause of regional development planning would be served if attempts were made to encourage small scale and local resource dependent industries.