Multi-National Oil Companies And Indigenous Human Capital Development In The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study focused on the contributions of Multi-national oil companies in Nigeria to indigenous human capital development in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria between 1993 and 2002. Interest on this contemporary issue emerged as a result of complaints by indigenes of Host Communities of Multi-national oil companies in Niger Delta Region in Nigeria. They complained of not being equipped with relevant skills for employment or self-employment. To address this research problem, the study outlined five purposes for investigation.

First, to determine the pattern of relationship between human capital development intervention on indigenes of Host Communities and changes produced on their level of skills. Second, to determine human capital development impact on indigenes of Host Communities and changes produced on their level of skills. Finally, to determine patterns of relationships between the three cases between their human capital development programmes and changes produced in the level of skills of indigenes of Host Communities. To conduct this investigation, a sample population was taken from three out over ten multi-national companies in Nigeria. Multi-case research design was adopted, using sequential triangulation techniques (combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses). Purposive and theoretical sampling techniques were undertaken to select and interview Principal officials. Three related statistical analyses were adopted, namely: content analysis, regression analysis and trend analysis. From the results of the analyses, it was observed that "there is a positive and functional linear relationship between human capital development intervention and changes produced on the level of skills of indigenes of Host Communities. Second, the human capital development impact on indigenes of Host Communities in SPDC was positive, while they were negative in Host Communities of NAOC and CNL. Lastly, a theory emerged after testing developed hypotheses from qualitative study. Thus, the study has achieved its aims and objectives and also made concerned Nigerians and international communities more knowledgeable on the activities of the three Multi-national oil companies in Niger Delta Region, particularly in the area of human capital development.