ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the oil palm sector in Nigeria in comparison with that in Malaysia. It offers explanations for the decline of this high-potential sector in Nigeria, in contrast with Malaysia. The chapter presents a brief comparative discussion of the evolution of the oil palm sector in both countries. It explores the systemic interactions within the sector as well as the innovation performance of firms. The chapter provides a descriptive data and qualitative data to examine firm-level innovation and technological performance in the sector. Nigeria has an abundance of a wide variety of oil-yielding plants much of which grows in almost all regions of the country. Before petroleum production and export became her dominant revenue commodity, Nigeria was the largest producer and exporter of palm produce which is produced largely in the southern part of the country. A much higher prevalence of innovation was found among Malaysian firms compared to the Nigerian firms.
