This article examines how formal, firm-sponsored training contributes to human capital accumulation and measurable firm outcomes in Ghana. Building on recent evidence that organizational-level training improves performance while enabling innovation through skill upgrading and knowledge transfer, the study tests whether training intensity is associated with higher productivity, innovation adoption, and internal mobility (promotions) after accounting for firm size, sector, ownership, and management experience. Findings indicate positive and economically meaningful links between training and both productivity and innovation, with stronger effects among medium and large firms and knowledge-intensive activities; heterogeneity by gender composition and export orientation is explored. A balanced view is maintained: while training often enhances organizational outcomes, randomized evaluations underscore mixed short-run employment effects, highlighting the importance of training quality and transfer. Policy and managerial implications for strategic workforce development in Ghana are discussed. Read more

Employee training and workforce education are central elements of firm human capital, but their joint productivity value remains uncertain in developing economies. This study examined whether formal employee training was associated with labour productivity in Ghanaian enterprises and whether the educational composition of the permanent workforce strengthened that relationship. The analysis used the Ghana World Bank Enterprise Survey 2023. Real labour productivity was calculated as annual sales, expressed in constant 2019 Ghana cedis, divided by permanent full-time employment. The natural logarithm of productivity was used because the raw distribution was highly skewed. Formal training was measured directly, while workforce education was harmonised from two mutually exclusive survey forms: the percentage of employees completing high school and a count converted to the same percentage scale. Following World Bank procedures, potentially unbounded sales and employment values were screened after log transformation, sampling weights were applied, and realized industry was used. The analytical sample contained 629 establishments. Survey-weighted regression controlled for firm age, employment size, manager sector experience, foreign ownership, industry and region. The weighted training rate was 48.3%, the mean workforce education share was 82.7%, and geometric labour productivity was GH₵45,412 per permanent employee. Formal training had a positive but statistically uncertain association with productivity, b = 0.392, SE = 0.232, p = .091. A 10-percentage-point increase in workforce education was associated with 14.7% higher productivity (b = 0.137, SE = 0.050, p = .006). The training-by-education interaction was near zero, b = -0.009, SE = 0.086, p = .921. Alternative weights, bootstrap analysis, sector controls and outlier tests supported the null interaction. The results show that workforce education is a strong productive resource, while formal training may add value independently but did not become more productive as the workforce education share increased. Firms should align training with specific performance gaps and evaluate learning transfer rather than assuming automatic complementarity with formal education. Read more

Kenya’s service-sector expansion has not automatically produced structural transformation. This article combines descriptive World Development Indicators for 2006–2024 with a structured integrative synthesis of peer-reviewed and institutional evidence. It assesses how services can support productivity, exports, employment and production linkages. Services increased from 50.4% to 55.7% of GDP between 2006 and 2024, while their employment share rose from 33.1% to 41.2%. Over the same period, industry’s share of GDP declined from 19.4% to 16.3%. Average services growth exceeded overall GDP growth. However, services trade fell from 14.9% to 11.4% of GDP, indicating weak external orientation. The article develops a five-channel framework and differentiates six service portfolios using scalability, tradability, linkages and inclusion. It concludes that Kenya should combine modern tradable services, production-enabling services and upgraded local services. The study offers a diagnostic policy framework rather than causal estimates. Read more

Maize production plays a critical role in enhancing food security, income generation, and rural livelihoods in Kenya. Smallholder farmers contribute a substantial proportion of national maize output, yet their productivity remains below potential due to various socioeconomic constraints. This study examined the socioeconomic factors influencing maize production among smallholder farmers in Bungoma-North Sub County, Bungoma County, Kenya, with a view to enhancing food security. The study was guided by the Theory of Production, which explains how variations in production inputs and resources influence agricultural output. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, targeting smallholder maize farmers within Naitiri, Mbakalo, and Kabuyefwe wards. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The socioeconomic variables examined included credit accessibility, land ownership, labor availability, educational attainment, income levels, and demographic characteristics. Findings revealed that socioeconomic factors significantly influenced maize production among smallholder farmers. Access to credit enhanced the ability of farmers to purchase improved inputs and adopt modern farming technologies. Household income levels positively influenced investment in agricultural production, while educational attainment improved farmers’ capacity to adopt recommended agronomic practices. Land ownership and farm size were also found to significantly affect maize yields due to their influence on production scale and resource allocation. Regression analysis demonstrated that socioeconomic factors significantly predicted maize production outcomes, indicating that improvements in access to financial resources, education, labor, and productive assets could substantially increase maize productivity and strengthen household food security. The study concludes that socioeconomic factors remain fundamental determinants of maize production among smallholder farmers and should be prioritized in agricultural development programs. The study recommends strengthening rural credit systems, promoting farmer education and training, improving access to agricultural inputs, and supporting income-generating activities that enhance farmers’ production capacity. These interventions would contribute significantly to sustainable maize production and improved food security in Bungoma-North Sub County and similar agricultural regions. Read more

Managing tasks across academic, personal, and professional life remains a persistent struggle for most people, even with the growing number of digital tools available. The problem is not a shortage of apps—it is that the vast majority of them still require users to do most of the work manually: typing out tasks, setting deadlines one at a time, and remembering to check back. There is little to no intelligence built into these platforms to anticipate what a user might need next. This paper introduces TaskWise, a task management application that takes a different approach. Rather than forcing users into rigid input forms, TaskWise lets them type or speak commands in plain English—for example, “Remind me to submit my assignment by Friday”—and the system interprets those instructions to create, schedule, and organise tasks on their behalf. The application was built on a three-tier architecture: React and Tailwind CSS handle the frontend interface, Firebase Cloud Functions drive the backend logic, and Firestore provides real-time data synchronisation across devices. We also incorporated an AI-powered conversational assistant that can generate study plans, suggest tasks based on context, and respond to user queries in a natural, conversational tone. Testing with a small group of university students showed that users could create tasks significantly faster with the natural-language input compared to traditional form-based entry, and the System Usability Scale score came in at 82 out of 100. While the current version is still a prototype with clear limitations—particularly around offline support and team collaboration—TaskWise demonstrates that combining AI with cloud infrastructure can meaningfully reduce the friction involved in day-to-day task management. Read more

This study investigated the impact of organizational training and employee creativity on job productivity among administrative staff of Ogun State polytechnics, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with 201 respondents randomly selected from a population of 415 staff across three institutions. Data were collected using the validated Employee Creativity, Organizational Training and Job Productivity (ECOTJoP) Scale, which demonstrated sufficient reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.7). Regression analysis revealed that training and creativity jointly accounted for 66% of the variance in productivity (R = 0.82, R² = 0.67, Adj. R² = 0.66), with training emerging as the strongest predictor (67–74%), while creativity contributed moderately (26–27%). Correlation results confirmed strong positive associations between training and productivity (r = 0.86, p < 0.01) and moderate associations between creativity and productivity (r = 0.52, p < 0.05). ANOVA indicated significant demographic differences, with mid-career staff (ages 31–40, 5–10 years of experience) exhibiting higher productivity, suggesting adaptability and experience enhance outcomes. Histograms showed near-normal distributions of performance scores centered around 45, reflecting consistent productivity levels. The study concludes that continuous training enhances efficiency, creativity fosters innovation, and together they sustain productivity. It recommends structured professional development and creativity-driven initiatives to strengthen institutional resilience and effectiveness in higher education administration. Read more

This study examines the impact of emerging working arrangements on the productivity of Human Resources (HR) professionals in Nigerian firms. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from HR professionals across selected Nigerian firms to determine the relationship between flexible working arrangements and productivity levels. The analysis of the inferential statistics employed the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach to test the proposed model using SmartPLS 4. The findings reveal that emerging work arrangements significantly influence HR productivity, particularly in work-life balance, task efficiency, and job satisfaction. The study emphasizes the importance of adaptive organizational policies that support flexible work while maintaining accountability and performance standards. Recommendations are made for organizations to invest in digital infrastructure and HR capacity-building to optimize productivity under new work paradigms. With the growing prevalence of flexible, remote, and hybrid work models driven by technological advancements and global influences, organizations have been compelled to rethink traditional work structures. Read more

This study investigated the effect of human capital development on employee productivity in selected 5-star and 4-star hotels in South-South Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the impact of employee training, career planning, and employee well-being on productivity. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 251 managerial and operational staff using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondent characteristics, while regression analysis was employed to determine the strength and significance of the relationships between human capital development variables and employee productivity. The findings revealed that all three dimensions of human capital development positively and significantly affect employee productivity, with career planning exerting the strongest effect. The study concludes that investing in structured career development initiatives is essential for enhancing productivity in the hotel industry. It was recommended amongst others that companies should invest in employee wellness programs that address physical, mental, and emotional health, such as counseling services, fitness initiatives, and stress management workshops. Read more

This study assesses soil fertility management practices among smallholder farming communities in five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 150 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, capturing information on socioeconomic characteristics, soil fertility practices, and challenges. The results showed that 93.33% of respondents in Lafia LGA and 96.67% in Obi LGA practiced soil conservation methods, with the most common techniques being cover cropping, used by 86.67% of farmers in Obi, and organic manure application, adopted by 100% of respondents in Akwanga, Doma, and Nasarawa Eggon LGAs. Chemical fertilizer usage was relatively lower, ranging from 6.67% in Obi to 50% in Lafia. Major challenges faced by farmers included inadequate knowledge of soil management, identified by 100% of respondents in Akwanga, and high fertilizer costs, reported by 70% of respondents in Lafia and Obi LGAs. Education played a significant role in adopting soil fertility practices, as respondents with tertiary education were more likely to employ modern techniques like conservation tillage and agroforestry. Despite these practices, limited access to organic materials and technical knowledge hindered broader adoption of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). The study highlights the need for tailored interventions, such as farmer education and capacity building, to improve soil health and agricultural productivity. These findings provide a foundation for developing policies that promote sustainable farming practices, ensuring long-term food security in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole. Read more

This study presents a bibliometric and bibliographical analysis of 1,148 articles by 43 scientists at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, from 1970 to 2020. It examined authorship pattern-collaboration, subjects-year wise distribution, relative growth rate, and research doubling time. Results showed a significant rise in research output, with 67% of publications from 1995-2020, > 2 times the output from 1970-1994 (33%). Prominent subjects include Animal Science (23%), Food Science (17%) and Soil Science (11%). Findings reveal significant authorship collaborations and subject specific growth rates in Animal Science, Food Science and Soil Science with (23%), (17%), (11%), (10.3%) respectively. Four-author articles dominates with (35%) of total authorship patterns. The study highlighted gaps in fields like Agricultural Engineering and Crop Physiology, emphasizing the need for more interdisciplinary collaboration and targeted resource allocation to underrepresented areas. Findings provide a foundation for future research directions and strategic planning. Read more