This book contains a comprehensive exposition on the evolution and development of modern business enterprise in Nigeria, from the colonial period up to the present time. It highlights the challenges that top managers have faced within a rapidly changing business environment characteristic of such emerging economies. The book analyzes in detail how the mercantile trading houses that dominated the Nigerian economy during the colonial period transformed from import-export business into formidable conglomerates with business interests in manufacturing and modern service industries.

To survive in a rapidly changing environment such as Nigeria, top managers had to be adaptive and innovative in coping with emerging realities. The book contains a synthesis of how business enterprises adapted their strategies and organizational structures to cope with the demands of the ever-changing business environment in Nigeria. It also contains a summary of the author's research findings on the internal organization and management of large-scale business enterprises in Nigeria as well as the strengths and weaknesses of business enterprises in the country. In addition, the book presents the findings from a recent survey on emerging Nigerian-owned multinational corporations on the world stage. The growth and challenges facing indigenous management consulting firms are also examined in the book.

The book serves as a valuable read for senior and top managers, policy makers, researchers, teachers, and students of business administration and general management throughout Africa.

Explores the evolution of modern business enterprise in Nigeria Provides an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of business enterprise in Nigeria Promotes a more effective practice of modern management in Nigeria as well as in Africa in general

Autorentext

Oyeyemi Adegbite has consulted extensively over the years for several companies and organizations in the private sector in the areas of project analysis and new venture development, management and organization development , executive recruitment and selecton, strategic planning and corporate restructuring as well as small and medium enterprise development

Over the years Dr Adegbite served as Chairman or Director on the Board of several companies in both the public and private sectors as well as non- governmental organizations. He was a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Ondo State Government between 1977 and 1980, and also a Director of Ondo State Investment Holdings Limited between 1986 and 1988. In 1990 he represented Nigeria at the Third Beijing International Conference on Entrepreneurship Development and Technological Innovation organized by the UNDP in collaboration with the government of the Peoples Republic of China.

Dr Adegbite is the author of a well-received book titled “ Perspectives on Industrial Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Hard Choices” published by Springer Nature in December 2021. In addition he has written several articles and research papers in the areas of Strategic Planning, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Export Promotion, Tariff and Trade Policies, Industrial Planning and Development.

Inhalt

1. The Changing Pattern of Business Enterprise in Nigeria.- 2. The Old Mercantile Houses: From Colonial Trading to Conglomerates.- 3. The Strategy and Structure of Business Enterprise in Nigeria.- 4. A Profile of Top Management in Nigeria.- 5. Planning in Nigerian Business.- 6. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Business Enterprise in Nigeria.- 7. A Glimpse At Emerging Nigerian-owned Multinational Corporations.- 8. Promoting and Operating a Viable Management Consulting Practice In Nigeria.- 9. Research Agenda on the Practice of Management in Nigeria.- 10. African Context and Implications for Research on the Practice of Management.