An Analysis of Technology Spillover from the Multinational Building Construction Firms to Local Artisans: Evidence from Lagos State, Nigeria

The study assessed technology spillover strategies among artisans that are employed by the multinational building construction firms that operate in the building construction sector of Lagos State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to sample three hundred and fifteen (315) artisans through the use of validated structured questionnaire, out of which three hundred and three (303) copies were properly completed and found analyzable, thus representing 96.2% return rate. Data obtained were analyzed using simple percentages, mean with standard deviation as well as factor analysis using principal component. The results show factor 1 which was named ‘policy related’ factor, accounting for 26.9% variation; factor 2 named ‘institutional related’ factor accounted for 15.9%; factor 3 which was labeled ‘technical related’ factor, accounted for 12.9% variation, factors 4 which was named ‘organizational related factor’ accounted for about 10.1% variation, and factor 5 which was labeled ‘presence of foreign companies’ accounted for about 8.4% variance in the use of the identified factor for technology spillover in the study area. The study concludes that government must ensure that multinational building construction firms operating in Nigeria are made to put in place established skills and knowledge transfer strategies that could ensure that appropriate knowledge and skills are transferred to the locals, which could be verified regularly. It was further recommended that educational institutions that are established for the purpose of manpower development in the construction industry are equipped with necessary input resources for knowledge and skills acquisition.