This paper investigated the influence of subcontracting on innovation and its impact on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Onitsha, Nigeria. The paper adopted a number of methods comprising of field observations, reference to relevant literature, and a questionnaire survey of 113 SMEs. Regression, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. In line with the literature, this paper identified seven (7) dimensions of subcontracting assistance from large scale industries to small business firms. The paper found that subcontracting relationship between large scale industries and SMEs is inclined to production and product-related cooperation where the contractors are concerned with meeting fluctuation in demand and shortening long delivery times. This paper concluded by suggesting that subcontracting relationship between SMEs and large scale industries should not be restricted to production, purchase, finance and marketing assistance. It should also be extended to human resource development and organisational-know-how. ARTICLE HISTORY

Purpose Despite the potential of SMEs in economic development, their activities have remained largely unsustainable in Nigeria. These enterprises are constrained by a number of challenges- high cost of production, poor power supply, high infrastructural deficit etc. which have made there operations largely unproductive. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of production subcontracting forms on the sustenance of small and medium enterprises as a panacea for achieving the targets of goal 8 of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Enugu State, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopted a number of methods comprising of field observations, a reference to relevant literature and a questionnaire survey of 96 SMEs. The paper also adopted a quantitative approach comprising of simple descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation as well as regression analysis to analyze the data. Findings This paper found that the three forms of production subcontracting (supplier, specialized and capacity subcontracting) identified in the paper were used by SMEs to achieve sustenance (cost reduction, risk reduction and access to resources) in their operations. The paper suggests that the sustenance of SMEs through the utilisation of the different forms of subcontracting can become a strategy towards achieving the targets of SDG 8 in Nigeria. Practical implications This paper has shown that the prevalent high cost of production and ever-increasing production risks, which are the common features of SMEs in Nigeria, can be mitigated through the various forms of production subcontracting analysed in this paper. SMEs, through seminars, workshops, entrepreneurship and business fares, can be encouraged to take up this strategy, considering its ability to address their various operational bottlenecks. Originality/value This study adds to the limited available evidence concerning the effects of subcontracting forms on the sustenance of SMEs in Nigeria. This study is the first to consider subcontracting forms and how they have led to sustenance SMEs in Nigeria.

The outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic has brought with it stagnation in all sectors of the economy, unemployment and loss of jobs, threats of recession, and annihilation of industries across the world. This paper examined the impact of strategic interfirm alliance on small-scale industries (SSI) amid the threat of COVID-19 pandemic in Nsukka, a local geographic space in Nigeria. A survey research design and a questionnaire survey of 82 SSIs were used in the paper. The data for the paper were analyzed using descriptive statistics while tables and percentages were used to illustrate the results. Results in the study revealed that 15.47%, 22.45%, and 44.20% of the respondents have experienced relative increase, increased, and significant increase, respectively, in COVID-19-induced challenges on their operations. The paper also showed that 24.81%, 25.01%, and 34.64% of the industries have experienced relative increase, increase, and significant increase, respectively, in their operations following their use of alliance, while 5.06% and 10.48% have experienced relative and significant decreases. The paper suggests that SSIs in Nigeria should adopt/institutionalize the use of strategic interfirm alliance in their operations in order to survive the COVID-19-induced challenges which have distrupted their production flow.

This paper is an appraisal of production subcontracting and how it stimulates the survival of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the Nigeria industrial sector. The aim of this article is to extend the debate on the desirability of production subcontracting between SMEs and its relevance to industrial development policy in Nigeria. The analysis in this paper was based on a desktop review of 15 articles published in Nigeria on production subcontracting and SMEs within a 19-year period (2001–2019). These articles were drawn from peer-reviewed journal articles. This paper found that on the basis of a critical review of literature, research on production subcontracting has apparently enjoyed a smidgen of global acceptance as was shown by its high quality of publications. This paper also found that production subcontracting strategy has been instrumental in the survival of SMEs in the Nigerian industrial sector through its abilities to guarantee reduction in operational cost, risk reduction, and resources accessibility. The found an emerging area of research in production subcontracting which suggests that production subcontracting increases firm performance in the areas of profit growth, market share, and organizational profit. This paper suggested that given the significant contributions of production subcontracting in the SMEs sector, the strategy deserves development and policy support in the country.

Globally, the highest number of maternal deaths is in Sub-Saharan African region with ratio of 546 maternal deaths per 100, 000 live births which is approximately 201,000 maternal deaths annually. This amounts to two-thirds of all maternal deaths per year worldwide.  This fact calls for investigation to ascertain its effect(s) on economic development of the sub region. It is however hypothesized that maternal death generally is significant and has negative influence on economic growth (Gross Domestic product) both in under-developed, developing and developed nations. The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of maternal mortality on economic development in Sub-Sahara African region. Cross-sectional data analysis of selected member countries in the region under focus was employed using double-log econometric model. The source of data is from United Nations Development Programme and World Bank. The explanatory variables in the model were statistically significant at 5% level while other coefficients like maternal mortality, exports and imports conform to the apriori expectations and impacted negatively on the overall GDP. A necessary but not sufficient condition is investing on viable programmes and projects that reduce maternal deaths as well as spur significant economic returns and sustainability in sub-Saharan African economies are however recommended.