INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT-AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study was to look, at international business management and assess the role of Multinational Corporation operating in Nigeria, in terms of their contribution to the socio-economic and technological development of the nation. The study was carried out in some selected multinational and it covered staff (respondent), 120 in number with at least secondary education. Data were collected mainly through structured questionnaires interviews and other secondary sources. The MNC are contributing to the economics and technological development of the nation. The economic contribution is moderate while the technological contribution is in adequate. The MNC are socially responsible that is to say, they are contributing to the social development of Nigeria. But this contribution was found to be inadequate. Finally, the work was concluded with a recommendation on further research and conclusion of the

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1   INTRODUCTION

National or domestic business not withstanding there is a literally a whole world out there for business to deal with. Just imagine, Coke (Coca-Cola product) is sold all over the world.

American motors is building its jeeps in Japan, Scores of Boeings Jetliners fly for various countries airlines. Peugeot is assembled in Nigeria, you may carry a sony portable radio, drive a Toyota car, wear Italian shoes here in Nigeria and any other part of the world. They are all prove or evidence of international business.

During the past three to four decades, the world has experienced the growth of an economic phenomenon the multinational corporation (MNC). Hicks and Gullet (1981), maintain that MNC are involved in the international business, through one exporting, licensing, franchising, joint venture, foreign branch or wholly owned subsidiaries.

Whole the MNC is not new, its importance, power and consequences have come to be appreciated fully only recently.

For instances, consider the significant role that large Multinational Oil Companies are playing in the economic systems of the World in General and Nigeria in particular. To press home point, hear what a former Managing Director (MD) of NNPC L.A. Amu, said about Nigeria economy.

“The Nigeria economy can largely be described as one with a strong petroleum industry superimposed over an undeveloped industrial base”. This is a kind of testimony of the positive role of Multinational Oil Company in Nigeria Economy. For without the oil companies, there would not have been an oil or petroleum industry in the initial place.