10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Numerous studies have been conducted on different themes on the economy of Ilorin in the precolonial, colonial and post-colonial periods. The contributions of the trade in second-hand commodities to the development of human lives in the present Nigerian economic realities are phenomenal. Despite the stigma and other challenges associated with the trade in used commodities, the trade in Ilorin during the period under review contributed immensely to the upliftment of the socio-economic lives of lower-income earners in Ilorin, Nigeria. Nevertheless, the socio-economic impact of the trade in second-hand goods in Ilorin is glossed over by the scholars in the economic history of Ilorin. Therefore, this study aims at examining the trends and economic impact of the trade in used commodities in Ilorin, 1980-2023. However, there has been a general paucity of literature on the trade in second-hand commodities and its contribution to the Ilorin economy in the post-colonial period. The study adopts the historical research methodology with the deployment of primary and secondary sources to investigate the origin of the trade in used commodities in Ilorin, examine the articles of the trade and their sources. It also identifies the different modes of the trade and evaluates the impacts and challenges of the trade in Ilorin. The findings show that trade in used commodities gained prominence in Ilorin just in the 1980s due to the downturn in the Nigerian economy and it also provides employment for people, raw materials for recycling industries, revenue for government, and the upliftment of the social status of the lower income earners in Ilorin, Nigeria. The study is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and entrepreneurs who have interest in understanding the dynamics of informal trade in Nigeria and the ways in which trade in second-hand commodities can drive economic growth and development.