1 -  Large-scale Agricultural Land Investments and Employment Creation in Africa: Qualitative Insights from University Farms in Nigeria

Evans Osabuohien; Felicia Olokoyo; Ibukun Beecroft; Alhassan Karakara; Uchenna Efobi

doi:10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6264

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Higher Education in Africa

Issue Published : May 4, 2026

1 - Large-scale Agricultural Land Investments and Employment Creation in Africa: Qualitative Insights from University Farms in Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6264

Evans Osabuohien

Department of Economics & Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Felicia Olokoyo

Departement of Banking and Finance, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Ibukun Beecroft

Department of Economics & Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

Alhassan Karakara

School of Economics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana / DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC), Nigeria

Uchenna Efobi

College of Management and Social Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria.

Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Article Published : May 4, 2026

Abstract

There has been an increasing interest in large-scale agricultural land investments (LALIs) in many African countries. Although higher education institutions play a significant role, there remains a lack of comprehensive research on the effects that large university farms have on households in the surrounding communities across Nigeria. Given this knowledge gap, this study investigates the effects of large scale university farms on employment in the host communities. The study provides qualitative insights into the implications of LALIs on employment. It was conducted at three university farms in Nigeria, chosen for their substantial agricultural landholdings. Data were collected through field observations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Relevant findings, including access to and acquisitions of land, diverse employment, remuneration patterns, and implications are documented for the selected farms. The study concludes that although LALIs can create employment opportunities for their host communities, focusing on other areas such as improved remuneration, processing and packaging of farm produce, and social projects will boost their employment creation abilities.

Keywords

agricultural land investments employment processing and packaging university farms value chain

Evans Osabuohien, Felicia Olokoyo, Ibukun Beecroft, Alhassan Karakara, & Uchenna Efobi. (2026). 1 - Large-scale Agricultural Land Investments and Employment Creation in Africa: Qualitative Insights from University Farms in Nigeria. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v21i1.6264

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References

Aabø, E., and Kring, T., 2012, ‘The political economy of large-scale agricultural land acquisitions: implications for food security and livelihoods/employment creation in rural Mozambique’, UNDP Working Paper, WP 2012-004.
African Union, 2011, Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa Land Policy in Africa: A Framework to Strengthen Land Rights, Enhance Productivity and Secure Livelihoods, Addis Abba: African Union Commission.
Ahlerup, P., and Tengstam, S., 2015, ‘Do the land-poor gain from agricultural investments? Empirical evidence from Zambia using panel data’, Paper presented at the NCDE 2015 Seminar, Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg.
Aigbokhan, B., and Ola, K., 2015, ‘Foreign land acquisitions, households’ livelihood with some evidences on Nigeria’, in E. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference.
Amanor, K.S., 2012, ‘Global resource grabs, agribusiness concentration and the smallholder: two West African case studies’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3–4, pp. 731–49.
Anseeuw, W., Lay J., Messerli, P., Giger, M., and Taylor, M., 2013, ‘Creating a public tool to assess and promote transparency in global land deals: the experience of the land matrix’, The Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 521–30.
Barbanente, G. and Aisbett, E., 2016, ‘Large-scale land acquisitions and rural development: empirical evidence from Ethiopia’, Paper presented at the 2016 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty. Washington DC, 14–18 March.
Borras, S.M., McMicheal P.M, and Scoones, I., 2010, ‘The politics of biofuels, land and agrarian change: editor’s introduction’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 575–92.
Castellanet, C., and Diepart, J., 2015, ‘The neoliberal agricultural modernisation model: a fundamental cause for large-scale land acquisition and counter land reform policies in the Mekong region’, BICAS, MOSAIC, LDPI, RCSD Chiang Mai University and Transnational Institute, Paper #55.
Christensen, D., Hartman, A., and Samii, C., 2017, ‘Legible institutions and land demand: the effect of property rights systems on investment in Liberia’, Draft paper for Department Seminar, UCLA.
Cotula, L., Vermeulen, S., Leonard, R., and Keeley, J., 2009, Land Grab or Development Opportunity? Agricultural Investment and International Land Deals in Africa, London/Rome: IIED/FAO/IFAD.
Daniel, S., 2012, ‘Situating private equity capital in the land grab debate’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3–4, pp. 703–29.
Deininger, K, Byerlee, D., Lindsay, J., Norton, A., Selod, H., and Stickler, M., 2011, Rising Global Interest in Farmland, Washington DC: The World Bank.
Edafe, O., Osabuohien, E., Matthew, O., Osabohien, R., & Khatoon, R., 2023a, Large-scale Agricultural Investment and Female Employment in African Communities: Quantitative and Qualitative Insights from Nigeria, Land Use Policy, 127 (April). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106579
Edafe, O. D., Osabuohien, E., Matthew, O., Olurinola, I., Edafe, J., & Osabohien, R., 2023b, Large-scale agricultural land investments and food security in Nigeria, Heliyon, 9, e19941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19941
ElHadary, Y.A., and Obeng-Odoom, F., 2012, ‘Conventions, changes, and contradictions in land governance in Africa: the story of land grabbing in north Sudan and Ghana’, Africa Today, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 59–78.
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), 2012, Trends and Impacts of Foreign Investment in Developing Country Agriculture. Evidence from Case Studies, Rome: FAO.
Hall, R., 2011, ‘Land grabbing in Southern Africa: the many faces of the investor rush’, Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 38, pp. 193–214.
HLPE (High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition), 2011, ‘Land tenure and international investments in agriculture: a report by the High-Level Panel of Experts on food security and nutrition’, HLPE and CWFS Report, Rome.
Jongbloed, B., Enders, J., and Salerno, C., 2008, ‘Higher education and its communities: Interconnections, interdependencies and a research agenda’, High Education, Vol. 56, pp. 303–24. 87–305.
Karakara, A. A., Efobi, U., Olokoyo, F., Beecroft. I., and Osabuohien, E. S. 2021. Youth Employment and Large-scale Agricultural Land Investments Nexus in Africa: Mixed Method Insights from Nigeria. Africa Development, XLVI (4), 177 – 203.
Khadjavi, M., Sipangule, K., and Thiele, R., 2017, ‘Social capital and large- scale agriculture investment: an experimental investigation in Zambia’, Kiel Working Paper, No. 2056.
KPMG, 2014, ‘The Pension Reform Act 2014’, Newsletter, July.
LMGO (Land Matrix Global Observatory), 2017, ‘The online public database on land deals’. http://www.landmatrix.org/en/ (accessed 5 February 2017).
Levy, D.C., 2005, ‘Private higher education’s surprise roles’, in P.G. Altbach and D. Levy, eds., Private Higher Education Revolution: An Introduction, Rotterdam: Sense Publisher, pp. 33–6.
Mutopo, P., Chiweshe, M.K., and Mubaya, C.P., 2015, ‘Large-scale land acquisitions, livelihoods, and gender configurations in Zimbabwe’, in E.S. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. pp. 130–44.
Mustapha, A.R., 2011, ‘White Zimbabwean farmers in Nigeria: exceptional farmers or spectacular support?’, African Affairs, Vol. 110, No. 441, pp. 536–61.
Nolte, K. and Ostermeier, M., 2017, ‘Labour market effects of large-scale agricultural investment: conceptual considerations and estimated employment effects’, World Development, Vol. 98, October, pp. 430–46.
Nolte, K., 2014, ‘Large-scale agricultural investments under poor land governance in Zambia’, Land Use Policy, Vol. 38, pp. 698–706.
Nolte, K., Chamberlain, W., and Markus, G., 2016, International Land Deals for Agriculture. Fresh insights from the Land Matrix: Analytical Report II, Bern, Montpellier, Hamburg, Pretoria: Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern; Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement; German Institute of Global and Area Studies; University of Pretoria; Bern Open Publishing.
Oanda, I.O. Chege, F.N., and Wesonga, D.M., 2008, Privatisation and Private Higher Education in Kenya: Implications for Access, Equity and Knowledge Production, Dakar: CODESRIA.
Odhiambo, M.O., 2011, ‘Commercial pressures on land in Africa: a regional overview of opportunities, challenges and impacts’, International Land Coalition.
Odoemene, A., 2012, ‘White Zimbabwe farmers in Nigeria: issues in “new Nigerian” land deals and the implication for food and human security’, African Identities, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 63–76.
Okuro, S.O., 2015, ‘Land grab in Kenya: risk and opportunities’, in E.Y. Vubo, ed., Environment, Agriculture and Cross-border Migrations, Dakar: CODESRIA. pp. 105–20.
Olokoyo, F.O., George, T.O., Efobi, U.R., and Beecroft, I., 2015, ‘Land deals and sustainable income: the case of a rural community in Ogun State, Nigeria’, in E.S. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. pp. 322–36.
Olorundare, A.S. and Kayode, D.J., 2014, ‘Entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities: a tool for national transformation’, Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, Vol. 29, pp. 155–75.
Osabuohien, E.S., 2014, ‘Large-scale agricultural land investments and local institutions in Africa: the Nigerian case’, Land Use Policy, Vol. 39, July, pp. 155–65.
Osabuohien, E.S., Efobi, U.R., Herrmann, R.T. and Gitau, C.M., 2019, ‘Female labour outcomes and large-scale agricultural land investments: macro-micro evidence from Tanzania’, Land Use Policy, Vol. 82, pp. 716–28.
Osabuohien, E.S., Gitau, C.M., Efobi, U.R. and Bruentrup, M., 2015, ‘Agents and implications of foreign land deals in East African Community: the case of Uganda’, in E.S. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. pp. 263–86.
Osabuohien, E.S., Okorie, U.E. and Osabohien, R.A., 2018, ‘Rice production and processing in Ogun State, Nigeria: qualitative insights from farmers’ association’, in E. Obayelu, eds., Food Systems Sustainability and Environmental Policies in Modern Economies, Hershey, PA: IGI Global. pp. 188–216.
Platteau, J.P., 1996, ‘The evolutionary theory of land rights as applied to sub- Saharan Africa: a critical assessment’, Development and Change, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 29–86.
Schoneveld, G.C., German, L.A. and Nutakor, E., 2011, ‘Land-based investments for rural development? A grounded analysis of the local impacts of biofuel feedstock plantations in Ghana, Ecology and Society, Vol. 16, No. 4, p. 10.
Toye, F., 2015, ‘Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted’ (attributed to Albert Einstein)’, British Journal of Pain, Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 7.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), 2005, Private Higher Education in Kenya, Paris: UNESCO O/IIEP.
Wily, A.L., 2012, ‘Looking back to see forward: the legal niceties of land theft in land rushes’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3–4, pp. 751–75.
Zhan, J., Mirza, H., and Speller, W., 2015, ‘The impact of larger scale agricultural investments on communities in south-east Asia: a first assessment’, in C. Gironde,
C. Golay and P. Messerli, eds, Large Scale Land Acquisitions, International Development Policy Series 6 Geneva: The Graduate Institute. pp. 81–107.
Zoomers, A., 2010, ‘Globalisation and the foreignisation of space: seven processes driving the current global land grab’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 429–47.

References

Aabø, E., and Kring, T., 2012, ‘The political economy of large-scale agricultural land acquisitions: implications for food security and livelihoods/employment creation in rural Mozambique’, UNDP Working Paper, WP 2012-004.

African Union, 2011, Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa Land Policy in Africa: A Framework to Strengthen Land Rights, Enhance Productivity and Secure Livelihoods, Addis Abba: African Union Commission.

Ahlerup, P., and Tengstam, S., 2015, ‘Do the land-poor gain from agricultural investments? Empirical evidence from Zambia using panel data’, Paper presented at the NCDE 2015 Seminar, Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg.

Aigbokhan, B., and Ola, K., 2015, ‘Foreign land acquisitions, households’ livelihood with some evidences on Nigeria’, in E. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference.

Amanor, K.S., 2012, ‘Global resource grabs, agribusiness concentration and the smallholder: two West African case studies’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3–4, pp. 731–49.

Anseeuw, W., Lay J., Messerli, P., Giger, M., and Taylor, M., 2013, ‘Creating a public tool to assess and promote transparency in global land deals: the experience of the land matrix’, The Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 521–30.

Barbanente, G. and Aisbett, E., 2016, ‘Large-scale land acquisitions and rural development: empirical evidence from Ethiopia’, Paper presented at the 2016 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty. Washington DC, 14–18 March.

Borras, S.M., McMicheal P.M, and Scoones, I., 2010, ‘The politics of biofuels, land and agrarian change: editor’s introduction’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 575–92.

Castellanet, C., and Diepart, J., 2015, ‘The neoliberal agricultural modernisation model: a fundamental cause for large-scale land acquisition and counter land reform policies in the Mekong region’, BICAS, MOSAIC, LDPI, RCSD Chiang Mai University and Transnational Institute, Paper #55.

Christensen, D., Hartman, A., and Samii, C., 2017, ‘Legible institutions and land demand: the effect of property rights systems on investment in Liberia’, Draft paper for Department Seminar, UCLA.

Cotula, L., Vermeulen, S., Leonard, R., and Keeley, J., 2009, Land Grab or Development Opportunity? Agricultural Investment and International Land Deals in Africa, London/Rome: IIED/FAO/IFAD.

Daniel, S., 2012, ‘Situating private equity capital in the land grab debate’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3–4, pp. 703–29.

Deininger, K, Byerlee, D., Lindsay, J., Norton, A., Selod, H., and Stickler, M., 2011, Rising Global Interest in Farmland, Washington DC: The World Bank.

Edafe, O., Osabuohien, E., Matthew, O., Osabohien, R., & Khatoon, R., 2023a, Large-scale Agricultural Investment and Female Employment in African Communities: Quantitative and Qualitative Insights from Nigeria, Land Use Policy, 127 (April). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106579

Edafe, O. D., Osabuohien, E., Matthew, O., Olurinola, I., Edafe, J., & Osabohien, R., 2023b, Large-scale agricultural land investments and food security in Nigeria, Heliyon, 9, e19941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19941

ElHadary, Y.A., and Obeng-Odoom, F., 2012, ‘Conventions, changes, and contradictions in land governance in Africa: the story of land grabbing in north Sudan and Ghana’, Africa Today, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 59–78.

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), 2012, Trends and Impacts of Foreign Investment in Developing Country Agriculture. Evidence from Case Studies, Rome: FAO.

Hall, R., 2011, ‘Land grabbing in Southern Africa: the many faces of the investor rush’, Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 38, pp. 193–214.

HLPE (High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition), 2011, ‘Land tenure and international investments in agriculture: a report by the High-Level Panel of Experts on food security and nutrition’, HLPE and CWFS Report, Rome.

Jongbloed, B., Enders, J., and Salerno, C., 2008, ‘Higher education and its communities: Interconnections, interdependencies and a research agenda’, High Education, Vol. 56, pp. 303–24. 87–305.

Karakara, A. A., Efobi, U., Olokoyo, F., Beecroft. I., and Osabuohien, E. S. 2021. Youth Employment and Large-scale Agricultural Land Investments Nexus in Africa: Mixed Method Insights from Nigeria. Africa Development, XLVI (4), 177 – 203.

Khadjavi, M., Sipangule, K., and Thiele, R., 2017, ‘Social capital and large- scale agriculture investment: an experimental investigation in Zambia’, Kiel Working Paper, No. 2056.

KPMG, 2014, ‘The Pension Reform Act 2014’, Newsletter, July.

LMGO (Land Matrix Global Observatory), 2017, ‘The online public database on land deals’. http://www.landmatrix.org/en/ (accessed 5 February 2017).

Levy, D.C., 2005, ‘Private higher education’s surprise roles’, in P.G. Altbach and D. Levy, eds., Private Higher Education Revolution: An Introduction, Rotterdam: Sense Publisher, pp. 33–6.

Mutopo, P., Chiweshe, M.K., and Mubaya, C.P., 2015, ‘Large-scale land acquisitions, livelihoods, and gender configurations in Zimbabwe’, in E.S. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. pp. 130–44.

Mustapha, A.R., 2011, ‘White Zimbabwean farmers in Nigeria: exceptional farmers or spectacular support?’, African Affairs, Vol. 110, No. 441, pp. 536–61.

Nolte, K. and Ostermeier, M., 2017, ‘Labour market effects of large-scale agricultural investment: conceptual considerations and estimated employment effects’, World Development, Vol. 98, October, pp. 430–46.

Nolte, K., 2014, ‘Large-scale agricultural investments under poor land governance in Zambia’, Land Use Policy, Vol. 38, pp. 698–706.

Nolte, K., Chamberlain, W., and Markus, G., 2016, International Land Deals for Agriculture. Fresh insights from the Land Matrix: Analytical Report II, Bern, Montpellier, Hamburg, Pretoria: Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern; Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement; German Institute of Global and Area Studies; University of Pretoria; Bern Open Publishing.

Oanda, I.O. Chege, F.N., and Wesonga, D.M., 2008, Privatisation and Private Higher Education in Kenya: Implications for Access, Equity and Knowledge Production, Dakar: CODESRIA.

Odhiambo, M.O., 2011, ‘Commercial pressures on land in Africa: a regional overview of opportunities, challenges and impacts’, International Land Coalition.

Odoemene, A., 2012, ‘White Zimbabwe farmers in Nigeria: issues in “new Nigerian” land deals and the implication for food and human security’, African Identities, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 63–76.

Okuro, S.O., 2015, ‘Land grab in Kenya: risk and opportunities’, in E.Y. Vubo, ed., Environment, Agriculture and Cross-border Migrations, Dakar: CODESRIA. pp. 105–20.

Olokoyo, F.O., George, T.O., Efobi, U.R., and Beecroft, I., 2015, ‘Land deals and sustainable income: the case of a rural community in Ogun State, Nigeria’, in E.S. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. pp. 322–36.

Olorundare, A.S. and Kayode, D.J., 2014, ‘Entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities: a tool for national transformation’, Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, Vol. 29, pp. 155–75.

Osabuohien, E.S., 2014, ‘Large-scale agricultural land investments and local institutions in Africa: the Nigerian case’, Land Use Policy, Vol. 39, July, pp. 155–65.

Osabuohien, E.S., Efobi, U.R., Herrmann, R.T. and Gitau, C.M., 2019, ‘Female labour outcomes and large-scale agricultural land investments: macro-micro evidence from Tanzania’, Land Use Policy, Vol. 82, pp. 716–28.

Osabuohien, E.S., Gitau, C.M., Efobi, U.R. and Bruentrup, M., 2015, ‘Agents and implications of foreign land deals in East African Community: the case of Uganda’, in E.S. Osabuohien, ed., Handbook of Research on In-Country Determinants and Implications of Foreign Land Acquisitions, Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. pp. 263–86.

Osabuohien, E.S., Okorie, U.E. and Osabohien, R.A., 2018, ‘Rice production and processing in Ogun State, Nigeria: qualitative insights from farmers’ association’, in E. Obayelu, eds., Food Systems Sustainability and Environmental Policies in Modern Economies, Hershey, PA: IGI Global. pp. 188–216.

Platteau, J.P., 1996, ‘The evolutionary theory of land rights as applied to sub- Saharan Africa: a critical assessment’, Development and Change, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 29–86.

Schoneveld, G.C., German, L.A. and Nutakor, E., 2011, ‘Land-based investments for rural development? A grounded analysis of the local impacts of biofuel feedstock plantations in Ghana, Ecology and Society, Vol. 16, No. 4, p. 10.

Toye, F., 2015, ‘Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted’ (attributed to Albert Einstein)’, British Journal of Pain, Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 7.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), 2005, Private Higher Education in Kenya, Paris: UNESCO O/IIEP.

Wily, A.L., 2012, ‘Looking back to see forward: the legal niceties of land theft in land rushes’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 39, No. 3–4, pp. 751–75.

Zhan, J., Mirza, H., and Speller, W., 2015, ‘The impact of larger scale agricultural investments on communities in south-east Asia: a first assessment’, in C. Gironde,

C. Golay and P. Messerli, eds, Large Scale Land Acquisitions, International Development Policy Series 6 Geneva: The Graduate Institute. pp. 81–107.

Zoomers, A., 2010, ‘Globalisation and the foreignisation of space: seven processes driving the current global land grab’, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 429–47.