BUSINESS AND FINANCE JOURNAL

This paper examines the dynamic relationship between foreign portfolio investment and exchange rate volatility in Nigeria between 1990 and 2024, a time frame characterised by different capital flow patterns and exchange rate regimes. The study used nominal exchange rate, real exchange rate, exchange rate regime, and exchange rate misalignment as important variables to capture the subtleties of exchange rate volatility; net inflow of portfolio investment was used as a stand-in for foreign portfolio investment. The study verified data stationarity and looked at both short- and long-term associations using the AutoRegressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and the Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test. The World Bank's World Development Indicators (WDI) and the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) Statistical Bulletin were the sources of the data. A long-term relationship between exchange rate volatility and foreign portfolio investment was validated by the boundaries test. In particular, portfolio inflows were positively and significantly impacted by both nominal and real exchange rates in the near term, indicating that foreign investors are sensitive to changes in exchange rates. On the other hand, the exchange rate regime had a long-term negative and substantial impact on portfolio inflows, underscoring policy unpredictability as a barrier to consistent investment. It's interesting to note that over time, exchange rate misalignment showed a strong and positive correlation with inflows, suggesting that investors were speculating on currency mispricing. In order to boost investor confidence and draw in capital inflows, the study finds that exchange rate dynamics are crucial in determining foreign portfolio investment patterns in Nigeria and advises the CBN to maintain stable and market-reflective exchange rate policies.

The Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSA) and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBA) were finally signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 26 June 2025, and will take effect from 1st January 2026, thus representing the most comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria's fiscal architecture in decades. This paper does a doctrinal and conceptual analysis of the reform package and its impact on three constituencies namely, individual and corporate taxpayers, practitioners and the Nigerian economy. The paper finds the tax reforms increase the personal income tax exemption band; adopt a progressive tax rate system with a higher threshold for taxing high earners; abolish the corporate income tax on small companies, and implement zero-rating for essential goods instead of exemption from VAT. The reforms provide relief to welfare providers at the bottom of the income distribution, and put new demands on welfare providers at the top. The RNIO will provide opportunities for tax practitioners in a variety of ways, including the preeminence of transfer price, minimum effective tax rate, and dispute resolution issues before the new Tax Appeal Tribunal and Tax Ombudsman, and the burden of retraining in this new framework with multiple statutes merged into one. The reforms offer the economy a greater tax-to-GDP ratio, better fiscal federalism via a derivationbased VAT-sharing formula, and a more predictable investment climate, but these benefits depend on the institutional capacity, digital infrastructure and political will. The paper ends with recommendations for implementing gradually, educating taxpayers on the changes over time, and ongoing checks on the distributive and revenue impacts of the changes.

This study examined the barriers to FinTech adoption and their implications for financial inclusion in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The objectives were to assess the level of awareness and adoption of FinTech services, identify the key barriers to adoption, and examine the relationship between these barriers and financial inclusion outcomes in the study area. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 582 respondents drawn from different socioeconomic groups in Bayelsa State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, and mean scores. Findings revealed that awareness of FinTech services among respondents is relatively high; however, actual adoption remains moderate. Major barriers identified include poor internet connectivity, irregular electricity supply, low digital literacy, lack of trust in digital platforms, fear of fraud and cybercrime, and high transaction costs. The study further found that FinTech services have positively influenced financial inclusion by improving access to financial services, enhancing money transfer efficiency, and promoting savings and financial participation. However, access to credit through digital platforms remains limited. The study concluded that while FinTech has significant potential to enhance financial inclusion in Bayelsa State, its impact is constrained by infrastructural, socio-economic, and security-related challenges. It was recommended that government and relevant stakeholders improve digital infrastructure, enhance financial literacy, strengthen cybersecurity systems, and promote awareness campaigns to encourage wider adoption of FinTech services. 

Relationship between contemporary office facilities and job performance of staff in public tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria studied in this work. Correlational research design was employed in this paper, while sample of 306 respondents was used for the study. Data were generated from a structured questionnaire covering information and communication technology (ICT) facilities, lighting and ventilation office space, office furniture, and layout, communication facilities, and job performance. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and multiple regression. The reliability coefficients ranged from .839 to .907, indicating satisfactory internal consistency. The results showed significant positive relationships between ICT facilities and job performance, r = .410, p < .001; office furniture and job performance, r = .371, p < .001; lighting and ventilation and job performance, r = .408, p < .001; office space and layout and job performance, r = .442, p < .001; and communication facilities and job performance, r = .408, p < .001. Multiple regression showed that contemporary office facilities jointly explained 36.2% of the variance in job performance, R² = .362, F(5, 300) = 34.06, p < .001. Four of the five dimensions made statistically significant unique contributions. The study concludes that contemporary office facilities are significantly associated with staff job performance.

The recurrent episodes of distress that have characterised the Nigerian banking industry have consistently been traced to weak internal oversight and the opportunistic exercise of accounting discretion by bank management. This study examined the effect of board independence and creative accounting practices on financial distress among Nigerian listed deposit money banks. Anchored on Agency Theory and Positive Accounting Theory, the study adopted an ex post facto research design and a positivist research philosophy, relying on secondary data extracted from the audited annual reports of eleven purposively sampled deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group over the period 2015 to 2024, yielding a balanced panel of 110 bank-year observations. Financial distress was proxied by the Ohlson O-Score, board independence was measured as the proportion of non-executive directors to total board size, and creative accounting practices were proxied by discretionary loan loss provisions (DLLP) obtained as residuals from a fixed-effects provisioning regression. Bank size, return on assets, and leverage were included as control variables. The Hausman specification test favoured the fixed-effects estimator over the random-effects alternative, and all models were estimated with cluster-robust standard errors to address cross-sectional dependence identified through Pesaran's test. The results showed that board independence had a positive but statistically insignificant effect on financial distress (β = 0.7822, p = 0.691), while creative accounting practices, proxied by discretionary loan loss provisions, also exerted a positive but statistically insignificant effect on financial distress (β = 0.8595, p = 0.821). Both null hypotheses were therefore not rejected. Leverage and bank size, however, emerged as consistently significant determinants of financial distress across both models. The study concludes that, within a tightly regulated banking environment such as Nigeria's, internal governance and accounting discretion do not independently drive distress outcomes, as regulatory and prudential controls appear to substitute for internal monitoring mechanisms. The study recommends that regulators move beyond numerical compliance with board-independence thresholds toward assessing the substantive competence and engagement of non-executive directors, while sustaining prudential oversight of loanloss provisioning practices under the IFRS 9 expected credit loss framework.

This study examines the influence of social media influencers on the brand perception of alcoholic beverages in Abia State, Nigeria. Social media influencers are individuals who leverage their online credibility and engagement to shape consumers' perceptions and attitudes toward brands, making them an important component of contemporary digital marketing. The broad objective of the study was to assess the influence of social media influencers on the brand perception of alcoholic beverages in Abia State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 250 respondents selected from Aba North, Aba South, and Umuahia North Local Government Areas of Abia State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression with the aid of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that perceived authenticity, quality of content, and consumer engagement each had a positive and significant influence on brand perception, with quality of content emerging as the strongest predictor. The study concluded that social media influencers significantly shape consumers' perceptions of alcoholic beverage brands. It was recommended that firms collaborate with credible influencers, develop high-quality content, and encourage consumer engagement to strengthen brand perception and improve marketing effectiveness.

This study analyzes the relationship between remittances and exchange rate movements in Nigeria from 1980 to 2021. It specifically examines the trends in remittances and exchange rates, and investigates the impact of remittance inflows on exchange rate fluctuations in the country. The importance of this research stems from the considerable inflow of remittances relative to the size of Nigeria’s economy, which has led to several adverse effects, including the appreciation of the real exchange rate and the loss of competitiveness in the tradable sector. To evaluate the effect of remittances on the exchange rate, the study models the exchange rate as a function of remittance inflows, inflation, and economic growth. Data spanning from 1980 to 2023 was sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Diagnostic tests, including the JarqueBera test for normality and tests for multicollinearity, were conducted to assess the time series properties of the data. The analysis utilized the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) technique. The findings reveal that economic growth has a significant positive effect on remittances (β = 5.656290, t = 6.511424, p < 0.05), while exchange rate movements (β = -0.119294, t = -0.168559, p > 0.05) and inflation (β = 0.024494, t = 0.978400, p > 0.05) have negligible and statistically insignificant effects on remittances. Overall, the results highlight that while economic growth significantly boosts remittances, the exchange rate and inflation do not have a meaningful impact on remittance inflows in Nigeria. The study recommends that the Nigerian government focus on reducing the cost of sending remittances to enhance their poverty-reducing potential and encourage a larger proportion of these remittances to flow through formal financial channels.

This paper examines whether boardroom quality constrains financial statement fraud risk among listed oil and gas firms in Nigeria. The study is motivated by persistent concerns that formal corporate governance compliance does not always translate into effective financial reporting oversight. Using an ex-post facto design, the study analyzes nine listed oil and gas firms over 2016-2024, with a robustness check based on eight firms over 2016-2025. Financial statement fraud risk is proxied by the Beneish MScore, while board composition is measured by board size, board independence, gender diversity, financial expertise, and CEO duality. Random-effects panel regression with robust standard errors shows that board independence, gender diversity, and financial expertise are negatively and significantly associated with fraud risk, while CEO duality and leverage are positively and significantly associated with fraud risk. Board size is not significant. The evidence suggests that board quality matters more than board quantity in constraining manipulation warning signals. The paper recommends stronger substantive board independence, improved financial expertise, meaningful gender diversity, separation of CEO and board chair roles, and closer monitoring of highly leveraged firms.

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between electricity consumption and industrial output, addressing the "power-growth nexus" within a modern macroeconomic framework. Utilizing time-series data spanning from 1990 to 2025, the research focuses on the critical role of energy as a primary factor of production alongside capital and labor. The methodology employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to evaluate both short-run fluctuations and long-run equilibrium relationships. Empirical results from the unit root tests confirm that all variables are integrated of order one, 𝐼(1), providing a robust foundation for cointegration analysis. The ARDL bounds test reveals a statistically significant long-run relationship, with an F-statistic of 7.167 exceeding the critical upper bound. The estimation results highlight electricity consumption as the most dominant driver of industrial productivity; a 1% increase in electricity usage is associated with a 0.72% increase in industrial output. Furthermore, gross fixed capital formation shows a significant positive impact, while the labor force appears statistically negligible in the short-run framework. Diagnostic assessments, including the Breusch-Godfrey, Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey, and Jarque-Bera tests, confirm the absence of serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, and non-normality, ensuring model reliability. The high R-squared value of 0.965 indicates that the model explains 96.5% of the variation in industrial output. These findings suggest that stable energy infrastructure and sustained capital investment are foundational to national industrial trajectories. The study recommends that policymakers prioritize grid stabilization and energy efficiency to foster a resilient manufacturing sector in the post-pandemic era. 

This study investigates the effect of dynamic marketing capabilities and SMEs’ competitiveness, through the mediating role of product innovation. Drawing from the Resource Based View (RBV), this study hypothesizes that SMEs’ capacity to sense, seize and reconfigure enhances their ability to compete by increasing the rate and quality of their new product development. The study used empirical data from 3650 leather-based SMEs in Aba, Abia State of Nigeria and a sample size of 321 obtained through the Taro Yamane sample size determination formula. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel were used in the study, while Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis. The study found that market sensing capability positively and significantly (1%) affects product innovation. Market seizing capability was found to positively and significantly (1%) affect product innovation. Market reconfiguration capability positively and significantly (1%) affects product innovation. Product innovation was found to be positively and significantly (1%) related to SMEs’ competitiveness. We conclude by recommending that practitioners and managers of SMEs, like those of the studied leather-based SMEs, should shift their focus from optimizing current operations to investing in the dynamic capability routines themselves. The managers must systematically dedicate resources to proactive market intelligence, customer feedback mechanisms, and technological forecasting. SMEs should also view product innovation not as a spontanous outcome, but as the strategic output directly generated by its dynamic capabilities.

This study examines the effect of Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure on the Financial Performance of Selected Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria for the period 2012-2020. Data for the study were collected from the annual reports of the companies under the study. Data on Corporate Social Responsibility expenditures on social responsibility, environmental responsibility, community responsibility and employee responsibility represents the explanatory variables whereas Return on Asset (ROA) of the companies represents the dependent variable of the study. Data obtained were analyzed using Ordinary Least Square multiple regression. Results of the analyzed data demonstrate that CSR expenditures directed toward social responsibility and environmental responsibility have a positive and significant effect on the return on assets. The study also shows that CRS expenditures on community responsibility has positive and insignificant effect on the return on assets while expenditures on employee responsibility is negatively and significantly related the return on asset of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommends that manufacturing companies should increase and strategically structure their social responsibility expenditures and strengthen their community responsibility initiatives.

This research examines the effect of earnings management on the financial performance of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of earnings management on financial performance of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Earnings management was measured by discretional accruals, (DAC) and abnormal cashflow from operation, (ABCFO) as the independent variables and financial performance which was measured by return on assets, (ROA), as the dependent variable. Correlational research design was adopted and secondary data were obtained from the annual financial statements of listed deposit money banks Nigeria for the period of 9 years (2015 – 2023). The population of the study consists of al fourteen (14) deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group, from which a sample of ten (10) was selected for the study through simple random sampling. The data collected for the study were statistically analyzed using STATA 14. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis was employed to test the formulated hypotheses. The result from the OLS regression reveals that DAC has a positive and significant effect on ROA, ABCFO has a positive and significant effect on ROA. Based on this, the study concludes that earnings management has an effect on financial performance of Nigerian deposit money banks.

Tax incentives is an inbuilt expansionary tax fiscal policy that has the capacity to boost economic growth and prosperity. The scheme over time has been undermined, misused and abused by the relevant quarters. This study tends to rekindle the need and opportunity available in sincere implementation of tax incentives aids available to listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study specifically examined the effect of tax incentives proxied by tax holiday, loss relief, capital allowance and tax credit on profitability of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria; assessed the impact of tax incentives on market value; evaluated the influence of tax incentives on liquidity and analysed the effect of tax incentives on operational efficiency of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of thirty-four (34) consumers and industrial goods firms listed on Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 20 firms for a period of twelve years from 2012 to 2023. Secondary data on variables such as tax holiday, loss relief, capital allowance, tax credit, profitability, liquidity, market value and operational efficiency were obtained from the audited annual reports of the sampled firms and website of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).  Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, variance inflation factors and Dynamic Generalised Methods of Moment were employed as data analysis techniques. The result from objective one revealed that tax incentives proxied by annual allowance (t= 0.1920,  p

As a nation grapples with development challenges, the strategic utilization of deficit budgets emerge as a prominent policy tool for fostering economic expansion. This study examined the effects of deficit budget financing on economic growth in Nigeria from 1981 to 2023. Ex-post-facto design was adopted for the study. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study employed secondary data obtained from published statistical bulletin of Central Bank of Nigeria between 1981 to 2023. The data gathered was analysed using ordinary least square regression technique via E-views version 9. Findings revealed that Federal Government domestic debts, external debts and exchange rate have a significant effect on real gross domestic product in Nigeria between 1981 to 2023. It was recommended that the federal government of Nigeria should maintain optimum level of domestic debt as it represents a veritable mechanism through which the much-desired accelerated and sustainable economic growth can be achieved.

This study investigates the enduring structural and institutional constraints affecting Nigeria’s personal income tax system from 1960 to 2025, focusing on issues of equity, taxpayer compliance, and administrative efficiency. The objective is to assess the extent to which successive legislative reforms have addressed these challenges and enhanced revenue mobilisation. Adopting a qualitative doctrinal and historical research approach, the study traces the development of personal income tax legislation from the Income Tax Management Act 1961 through the Personal Income Tax Act 1993 to the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. The analysis is anchored on the Ability-to-Pay, Equity, Optimal Tax, Tax Compliance, and Institutional theoretical frameworks. The findings reveal that although successive reforms have improved legal clarity, progressivity, and the formal inclusiveness of the tax system, persistent weaknesses in institutional capacity, inconsistent enforcement, and low levels of taxpayer trust continue to undermine compliance and limit revenue performance. While the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 introduces significant innovations—particularly in expanding exemptions for low-income earners, accommodating digital and cross-border income, and promoting administrative modernisation—legislative reform alone has proven insufficient to deliver optimal outcomes without corresponding institutional strengthening. The study concludes by recommending sustained investment in tax administration, enforcement mechanisms, and trust-building measures to complement legal reforms. It contributes to the literature by offering a longitudinal doctrinal analysis of Nigeria’s personal income tax regime and by providing policy-relevant insights for enhancing equity, compliance, and revenue sustainability in emerging economies.

The sustainability of Nigeria's economic growth has come under scrutiny due to its significant reliance on oil exports and mounting external debt. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been viewed as a possible engine for economic growth and diversification. Thus, the impacts of external debt, oil export and FDI on economic growth in Nigeria are examined in this study. Time series data was utilized spanning 43 years between 1981 and 2023 to analyze the dynamic relationships between external debt, oil exports, FDI, and economic growth. The empirical process includes preliminary analysis (descriptive analysis; pre-test: unit root test [using ADF test]; cointegration test [ARDL bounds test]); model estimation (ARDL model) and post-estimation test. Following the empirical analysis, it was found that economic growth was positively and significantly impacted by external debt and FDI in Nigeria. Similarly, it is discovered that oil export has a beneficial impact on economic growth, indicating its potential as a catalyst for economic expansion and diversification. The findings have significant ramifications for decision-makers who want to support Nigeria's sustainable economic development and prosperity. Based on the foregoing outcomes, the study recommends that the government should give careful external debt management first priority which would entail a thorough evaluation of the project, open reporting of debt, and a dedication to keeping debt-to-GDP ratios within reasonable bounds. The government should also look into value-added potential in the oil industry, and efforts should be made to draw in more FDI. 

The main objective of this study examines the effect of audit quality on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. Specifically, the study assesses the effect of audit fee, audit size and auditor committee on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. The theoretical framework for the study is the agency theory. The research design was ex-post facto research design. The research work used secondary data collected from financial statements of the listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, fixed and random effect test and regression analysis for the test of hypotheses. The result of the study indicate that audit fee and audit size has significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria while and auditor committee has no significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. The study therefore concludes that audit quality has positive and significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. Amongst the recommendations is that consumer goods firms should determine the optimum audit fee that will not affect performance. Consumer goods firms should improve the audit size below the mean value and consumer goods firms should not be in a hurry to assign more than one responsibility to each of the auditor committee since it has significant effect on return on asset.

The main objective of this study examines the effect of audit quality on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. Specifically, the study assesses the effect of audit fee, audit size and auditor committee on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. The theoretical framework for the study is the agency theory. The research design was ex-post facto research design. The research work used secondary data collected from financial statements of the listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, fixed and random effect test and regression analysis for the test of hypotheses. The result of the study indicate that audit fee and audit size has significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria while and auditor committee has no significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. The study therefore concludes that audit quality has positive and significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods sector in Nigeria. Amongst the recommendations is that consumer goods firms should determine the optimum audit fee that will not affect performance. Consumer goods firms should improve the audit size below the mean value and consumer goods firms should not be in a hurry to assign more than one responsibility to each of the auditor committee since it has significant effect on return on asset.

This study examines the influence of entrepreneurial education on youth empowerment and job creation among university students in Nigeria. With the rising rate of youth unemployment and underemployment in the country, entrepreneurship has become a crucial pathway toward economic self-reliance and sustainable development. The study investigates how exposure to entrepreneurial education enhances students’ creativity, innovation, self-confidence, and business start-up intentions. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to selected students across public and private universities in Nigeria. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative analyses to evaluate the relationship between entrepreneurial education, youth empowerment, and job creation potential. Findings revealed that entrepreneurial education significantly improves students’ entrepreneurial mindset, skills acquisition, and readiness to establish self-sustaining ventures. The study also found that practical exposure, mentorship, and institutional support are key determinants of how effectively entrepreneurial education translates into job creation and empowerment outcomes. Entrepreneurial education is widely recognized as a key driver of youth empowerment and job creation, particularly in countries with high unemployment rates like Nigeria. It equips young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become self-reliant and create employment opportunities. This study investigates the influence of entrepreneurial education on youth empowerment and job creation among university students in Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 200 students across selected universities through structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial education significantly enhances students' creativity, self-confidence, and ability to start businesses. Challenges such as limited funding, poor practical exposure, and inadequate mentorship were identified as barriers. The study concludes that entrepreneurship education is crucial for addressing youth unemployment and recommends more practical training, incubation centers, government support, and university-industry partnerships.

The Covid-19 pandemic that originated from China has disrupted supply chain across the globe and caused all round reduction in business activities. This study examined the effect of Covid-19 supply chain disruptions on SMEs’ export performance in Abia State, Nigeria. The research design was the survey method. The population for the study was 14,620 comprising operators of textile and leather SMEs in industrial clusters in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria and with the Taro Yamane’s formula, a sample size of 400 was obtained. Convenience sampling method was adopted for this study. The questionnaire used in the study was validated by two research experts in measurement and evaluation and one in marketing. Regression analyses showed that Covid-19 supply chain disruption was a negative and significant factor affecting export sales growth and export intensity of the studied SMEs in Abia State of Nigeria. The recommended amongst others that SMEs during the post-Covid-19 period should form strategic inter-firm alliances in order to sustain export networks. Forming inter-firm alliance can benefit the SMEs in information sharing, corporate financing and sourcing of materials, corporate exports, etc. Working as a team of interconnected firms can equally help the firms build a culture of resilience for crisis seasons.

This study examined lean accounting and financial performance of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria.  The specific objectives were to examine the influence of kaizen costing on return on asset of manufacturing companies in Nigeria, examine the influence of just-in-time costing on return on asset of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study used survey research design. The population of the study is sixty-three (63) manufacturing companies. The unit of respondent of the study were three hundred and seventy-eight (378) knowledgeable and competent staff within the production, marketing and finance departments of the sixty-three (63) manufacturing companies. The sample technique was the census sampling approach. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis with the aid SPSS. The findings of the study revealed that there is significant influence of kaizen costing on return on asset of manufacturing companies in Nigeria; Just-in-time costing has a significant influence on return on asset of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study recommends that to determine the actual performance of the Kaizen system, organizations should bridge the bureaucratic barriers and allow the top management to interact freely with the lower hierarchy members of the organization and build a proper rapport to enhance effective communication, efficient development of ideas, proper adoption of generated ideas and avoid dismissing the simple little ideas given by the junior staff about improvement of the organization. Just-in-time costing (JITC) inventory system should be used by management in other not to run at loss and not to incurring further costs on staff training in other lean accounting knowledge. The study concluded that the introduction of just-in time lean accounting systems should be a process starting with training the staff members, ensuring the supervisors understand that small but gradual improvement are only possible when they bridge the bureaucratic barriers and engagement of employee and relying on their views is very critical

This study examines the relationship between audit firm characteristics and the financial performance of quoted insurance companies in Nigeria. Specifically, audit firm size and audit firm rotation were used as measures of audit firm characteristics, while financial performance was assessed using net profit margin (NPM), return on assets (ROA), and earnings per share (EPS). Data were obtained from the audited annual reports of 19 insurance companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group for the period 2012–2023. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and panel least squares regression analyses were employed, with the Hausman test determining the appropriate model specifications. The results revealed that both audit firm size and audit firm rotation exhibited statistically insignificant relationships with all measures of financial performance. Audit firm size showed a positive but insignificant association with ROA and EPS, and a negative insignificant link with NPM, suggesting that large audit firms may contribute to better governance and credibility without necessarily improving short-term profitability. Similarly, audit firm rotation showed weak and insignificant effects on NPM, ROA, and EPS, indicating that frequent changes in auditors do not directly enhance performance outcomes. The study concludes that while audit firm characteristics may indirectly strengthen corporate transparency and stakeholder confidence, they are not decisive predictors of financial performance in Nigeria’s insurance sector. It recommends that regulators balance audit rotation requirements with continuity of expertise and that insurance firms prioritize auditor competence and industry specialization over firm size alone.

The broad objective of this study is to investigate the influence of intellectual capital management on cost of equity of fast-moving consumer goods firms in Nigeria by focusing on three key proxies of intellectual capital, adopted from prior related literature. Specifically, this study evaluates how human capital, structural capital and relational capital affects cost of equity. Anchored on the resource-based view theory, this study ideology aligns with the position that intangible assets, including structural capital, is a critical driver of sustainable competitive advantage. Ex-post facto research design was adopted to examine a sample of twelve (12) out of a population of thirteen (13) fast moving consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. The sample size was achieved based on certain criteria to include consistent listing of sampled firms during the 2014 to 2023 period and availability of annual financial reports where the data were sourced. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to analyze the data, with preliminary diagnostic tests to include descriptive statistics, while fixed effect with clustered standard error regression procedure was used to test the stated hypotheses. The findings clearly reflect the perception of equity investors of fast-moving consumer goods firms in Nigeria indicating that structural capital investments while it may be beneficial for long-term efficiency and innovation, in the immediate term, it signals increased operational complexity or higher capital expenditures, leading to heightened risk premiums. Based on these outcomes, this study carefully recommends that stakeholders in the fast-moving consumer goods industry in Nigeria should prioritize strategic structural capital investments that will not only enhance operational efficiency but also mitigate perceived investor risk. This can be achieved by integrating risk-adjusted capital allocation strategies and demonstrate tangible returns on structural capital investments to help align investor perceptions with the firm’s true financial stability, ultimately fostering more favorable equity financing conditions.

This study explores the view of professionals on the state of trade logistics (road and ports) in Nigeria. Also, the impact of trade logistics and supply chain on trade development in Nigeria was explored using structured questionnaire. The study is cross-sectional descriptive study that administered questionnaires to fifty professionals that cuts across farmers, Ministry of Transportation, Infrastructure and Rural Development and Port Authorities. Pre-tested questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Four points Likert scale was used to extract data on the impact of trade logistics on trade development. The data was analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences. Frequency and proportion were used in the analyses of the data. Most of the factors used to capture port logistics were rated bad, and none was rated good by respondents. Also, majority of the factors use to indicate road quality were rated poor. For most of the questions use to examine the impact of infrastructure on supply chain, the majority were accepted, meaning that respondents concurred that poor state of infrastructure can negatively affect supply chain. Furthermore, for most of the questions that were used to examine the impacts of supply chain and logistics on trade development, the majority of the respondents agreed that logistics influence trade development in Nigeria. Among other things, it is recommended that Nigerian government should prioritise infrastructural development in its annual budgets and leverage on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in mobilising funds and technical expertise to improve the state of trade logistics. 

This study determined the relationship between E distribution and product availability of electronic tailing firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State South – South Nigeria.  Data for the study was collected through questionnaire from the fifty (50) respondents, however, forty four (44) of the distributed copies of questionnaire were valid and used for the analysis. The hypotheses were tested through Kendall’s taub tests. The findings revealed that, dimension of predictor’ variable: Direct E-Distribution, Intermediary E-Distribution, Hybrid E-Distribution, and Subscription-based E-Distribution has positive significant relationship with Product Availability of electronic tailing firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State South – South, Nigeria. The study concluded that E- distribution is the application of electronic devices to promote sales of  products and services to consumer, that the  drive or aim  of E-distribution is to efficiently and effectively deliver these digital goods to end- users through various online platforms at the right time, right place, and with the right price, thatE-distribution approaches adopted by E- tailing firms are Direct E-Distribution, Intermediary E-Distribution Hybrid E-Distribution, and Subscription-based E-Distribution. Based on that, the study recommended that, E-tailing firms should totally adopt Direct E-Distribution, Intermediary E-Distribution Hybrid E-Distribution, and Subscription-based E- distribution approaches to efficiently, and effectively deliver digital goods and services to the end- users. Finally. Customers should adhere with new development of E. Distribution channel as modern technology for shopping of products and services.

The paper examined religious diversity and employee engagement: a review of Nigerian Public Sector. The population of the study comprised of the MDAs at Federal Secretariat, Rivers state. !00 Federal Government employee were purposively sampled. Through the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Spearman Rank Correlation was used for the analysis. The findings showed that dimensions of religious diversity has a noteworthy and positive nexus with the employee engagement (vigor, dedication and absorption) of employee of Nigerian Public Sector. The findings of the study revealed that religious diversity is negatively correlated with vigor, dedication and absorption of Nigerian public sector employees. The identified negative correlations suggest that there is a tendency for levels of engagement, enthusiasm, and absorption in work-related activities to decline in tandem with the increase in religious diversity. The study recommends that organizations should encourage employees to engage in open dialogue and communication in order to promote appreciation and comprehension of diverse religious viewpoints and leadership should lead by example in promoting diversity and inclusion.

This study examined Religiosity and Tax compliance in Nigeria, focusing on Taxpayers in Edo State, including employees and self-employed individuals from Christian, Islamic and Traditional religious backgrounds. The research explored the extent to which religious beliefs, values, and moral teachings influence individuals' willingness to comply with tax obligations. Using a questionnaire based survey, data were collected from respondents, and statistical analysis were conducted to assess the relationship between religiosity and tax compliance behavior. The findings of this study highlight the role of religious teachings, ethical convictions, and spiritual beliefs in shaping taxpayer's attitudes towards compliance. Additionally, the study evaluates whether religiosity serves as a motivating factor for voluntary tax compliance or if it is overshadowed by other determinant trust, enforcement mechanisms, and Socio-economic factors. The study also integrates perspectives from both the Bible and the Qur'an to provide a theological understanding of taxation and compliance. The results contribute to policy discussions on Tax administration by offering insights into how religious values can be leveraged to enhance voluntary tax compliance. The study recommend that tax authorities should consider faith-based approaches in tax education and public awareness campaigns to improve compliance rates

This study determines the effect of external sector on industrial performance in Nigeria. A data period of 1985 to 2023 is considered. The industrial performance in Nigeria is examined using manufacturing sector gross domestic product as the indicator, with exchange rate, net export, foreign direct investment, external debt, and degree of trade openness employed as fundamentals of the external sector. Relevant yearly secondary data were gathered from the Statistical bulletins of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data analysis process was conducted using the techniques of Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, bounds co- integration test, and Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach. The unit root test yielded a mixture of I(0) and I(1) orders of integration, and the bounds co-integration test exhibited long run association among the variables. The ARDL estimates revealed that exchange rate substantially and inversely influenced manufacturing performance. Conversely, the degree of trade openness and foreign direct investment had substantial and driving impact on the manufacturing sector. In the short and long-term, the outcome of external debt and net exports are both positive but not significant. Thus, it is necessarily concluded that industrial performance through the lens of manufacturing sector’s domestic output in Nigeria is substantially influenced by the selected external sector variables. The Nigerian government should implement policies to stabilise the exchange rate and reduce volatility which adversely affects industrial production costs, encourage foreign direct investment inflows, and utilise external debt to provide production enablers, among other recommendations.

This study determines the effect of external sector on industrial performance in Nigeria. A data period of 1985 to 2023 is considered. The industrial performance in Nigeria is examined using manufacturing sector gross domestic product as the indicator, with exchange rate, net export, foreign direct investment, external debt, and degree of trade openness employed as fundamentals of the external sector. Relevant yearly secondary data were gathered from the Statistical bulletins of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data analysis process was conducted using the techniques of Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, bounds cointegration test, and Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach. The unit root test yielded a mixture of I(0) and I(1) orders of integration, and the bounds co-integration test exhibited long run association among the variables. The ARDL estimates revealed that exchange rate substantially and inversely influenced manufacturing performance. Conversely, the degree of trade openness and foreign direct investment had substantial and driving impact on the manufacturing sector. In the short and long-term, the outcome of external debt and net exports are both positive but not significant. Thus, it is necessarily concluded that industrial performance through the lens of manufacturing sector’s domestic output in Nigeria is substantially influenced by the selected external sector variables. The Nigerian government should implement policies to stabilise the exchange rate and reduce volatility which adversely affects industrial production costs, encourage foreign direct investment inflows, and utilise external debt to provide production enablers, among other recommendations.

The broad objective of this study is to examine the effect of perceived convenience on consumer’s intention to adopt and actual adoption of Fintech services in Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was used in the study. Users of Fintech services such as Kuda, Palmpay, Opay, and Moniepoint across the south east states of Nigeria formed the target population which is in line with the objective of the study. A sample size of 384 obtained through an appropriate technique was used in the study. In the study, purposive sampling which is a non-probability sampling technique was used. The study utilized Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis. Findings showed that perceived convenience exerts statistically significant and positive effect on consumer’s intention to adopt and actual adoption of Fintech services in Nigeria. It was concluded that perceived convenience significantly influences consumer’s intention to adopt and actual adoption of Fintech services in Nigeria. The study recommended that Fintech companies in Nigeria should invest significantly in creating a seamless and intuitive user experience. This includes a clear, minimalist interface, logical navigation, and a quick onboarding process. A well-designed user interface and user experience can directly increase a consumer’s perception of convenience, which is a critical driver of adoption.

This study examines the effect of apology on customer patronage of Deposit Money Banks in South East of Nigeria. The study was conducted using a quantitative survey research design. The population of this study comprised staff of 5 Deposit Money Banks across three (3) South East States of Nigeria. Using Taro Yamane’s equation, a sample size of 285 respondents was used for the study. All data obtained from the respondents were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Test of hypotheses was done with simple linear regression model. were used to test the hypotheses. The study found that apology was a positive and significant factor affecting customer retention and customer loyalty of Deposit Money Banks in South East, Nigeria. The study thus concluded that Deposit Money Banks in South East, Nigeria use apology to improve their overall marketing performance. It was recommended that an apology should be a mandatory first step in the recovery process. The bank managers should train employees on how to deliver a sincere and empathetic apology that acknowledges the customer’s frustration and the bank’s role in the service failure. The apology should be delivered as soon as the failure is identified, ideally the employee who is first made aware of the problem.

Integration of Management Information Systems (MIS) into organizational strategies has garnered significant attention among academia and industry participants. This study specifically addresses the challenges faced by Nigerian firms in implementing MIS, such as infrastructure limitations, high costs, lack of skilled workforce, and data security concerns. This study delves into the critical roles of MIS in enhancing financial success, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage. This study reviewed various types of MIS, including Decision Support Systems (DSS), Transaction Processing Systems (TPS), and Executive Support Systems (ESS), and examines their influence on firm performance through empirical studies. This study confirmed that, the historical development of MIS is traced through five distinct eras, from the era of mainframe computing to the current cloud computing phase, illustrating how technological advancements have reshaped organizational management. Building on the foundational work of scholars, this study emphasizes the necessity for firms to effectively adopt and optimize MIS to achieve superior profitability. It highlights the relevance of MIS in the context of Nigeria's rapidly evolving business environment during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In conclusion, this study provides practical recommendations for policymakers, emphasizing the need for investment in infrastructure, capacity building, financial support, data security, innovation promotion, and change management. By addressing these challenges and leveraging MIS effectively, Nigerian firms can enhance their competitiveness and contribute to sustainable economic growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

This paper discussed the role of ethical infrastructure in the organisational health of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The design for the paper is theoretical, and its theoretical premise is the institutions theory. Through the lens of the institutional theory, ethical infrastructure, expanded upon and its significance and reinforcement within the context of the Nigerian manufacturing sector, espoused. The paper, drawing on the dominant and prevailing position, emphasised the need for bolstering ethical behaviour and conduct within organisations through rewards, and also addressing deviance and non-compliance through strict sanctions. Drawing on the review, it was concluded that ethical infrastructure is critical for the health of manufacturing organisations, even those within Nigeria. The focus on strengthening such, would serve the economic wellbeing of the sector and can also be used to drive long-term global initiatives and goals.

This study investigated board attributes and financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to ascertain the effect of foreign ownership, board size, board meeting, board gender diversity on financial performance (proxied by Return on Equity .The study covered a period of ten (10) years ( 2014 to 2023). A multiple regression estimation approach was employed on information extracted from a sample consisting of sixteen (16) consumer goods companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group between the years 2014 to 2023. Panel Least Square regression technique was employed in estimating the data and testing the formulated hypotheses. The study reveals the existence of significant effect of foreign ownership, board size gender diversity on financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The study also discovered that board meeting, has no significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. In line with the findings, the study recommended that management of consumer goods companies in Nigeria should consider the reduction of number of meeting held in a year, doing this will help consumer goods companies to save cost which will in turn enhance financial performance of the sector. The study also  recommended that the idea of given more room to foreign investors should be discouraged, instead indigenous investors should be encouraged to own large portion of shares in our listed consumer goods companies, this is because the presence of more foreign investors will amount to expropriation of the firm values.

This study investigated digital and strategic marketing communication by examining Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Marketing (SMM) as tools in wining customer patronage at Opay Digital Bank in Nigeria. A quantitative research approach was employed, surveying 450 active Opay users to gather data for analysis. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, and the responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS V27. The findings indicate that SEO practices significantly enhance customer patronage at Opay (R = 0.692, p = 0.000) by improving visibility and user trust across digital platforms. Similarly, SMM demonstrated a strong positive relationship with customer patronage (R = 0.758, p = 0.000), emphasizing the role of social media in building brand awareness and user engagement. The study concludes that SEO and SMM are essential digital marketing tools for strengthening customer relationships in the digital banking sector. To achieve business growth and customer loyalty, Opay Digital Bank must optimize its SEO strategies and enhance social media engagement through personalized content and targeted interactions.

This study investigates the moderating effect of board independence on the relationship between sustainability reporting and earnings management in quoted deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria. The study adopts an ex post facto research design, analysing a sample of fifteen (15) DMBs listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the period 2013 to 2022. Using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model to address endogeneity concerns, the study provides dynamic panel data estimation based on the Arellano-Bond approach. The results indicate that sustainability reporting has a significant negative relationship with earnings management, implying that enhanced sustainability disclosures contribute to reducing earnings manipulation. Similarly, the interaction between earnings reporting and board independence shows a significant negative effect on earnings management, confirming that independent directors strengthen the role of earnings transparency in curbing managerial discretion. Furthermore, the interaction between sustainability reporting and board independence is also negative and significant, reinforcing the argument that an independent board enhances the monitoring effect of sustainability disclosures. The study concludes that board independence is a crucial governance mechanism that moderates the relationship between sustainability reporting and earnings management, thereby improving financial reporting quality in the Nigerian banking sector. Given the significance of these findings, the study recommends that regulatory bodies, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Financial Reporting Council, implement policies that enhance board independence to ensure financial integrity. Additionally, bank shareholders should advocate for a greater proportion of independent directors to strengthen governance structures that deter earnings manipulation.

This study examines the relationship between budget-based compensation and returns on investment of quoted Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The correlation survey research design was adopted. The study surveyed twelve out of twenty-three Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression and ANOVA were used to test the hypothesis with the aid of SPSS, version 22. Results indicated that there exists a significant relationship between budget- based compensation and return on investment of quoted Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria.. There is significant  positive relationship between budget- based compensation and return on  investment of quoted Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that budget-based compensation should be applied to compensate executives based on the amount for reward provided by corporate budgets.

The study examined the influence of forensic accounting on fraud detection and prevention in microfinance banks in Osun State,Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A total number of 378 staff of fifteen microfinance banks, in Osun State represents the population, however, the study sampled 300 staff using purposive sampling method. Questionnaire were used to gather the data for the study, Data were analysed using tabular simple percentage while regression analysis was employed for inferential statistics analysis.Results of the findings,revealed  that forensic accounting practices (digital forensics and document examination forensics) have positive and significant influence on fraud detection and prevesntion in microfinance banks in Osun State,Nigeria. Rusult further revealed that forensic accounting practices are key enablers of detecting and preventing fraud in microfinance banks in Osun State. The study concluded that forensic accounting techniques are critical enablers of detecting and preventing fraud committed by the microfinance banks in Osun State. Finally the study recommended that microfinance institutions in Osun State should leverage litigation support in order to detect and prevent fraud, as this method facilitates the discovery of anomalies through document analysis, hence assisting in fraud detection and prevention.The study furthers recommended that microfinance banks should employ digital forensics as part of their fraud investigations and as a continuous process rather than as a time-limited exercise.

The emergence of economic, environmental, and social reporting has contributed to the recent rise in popularity of sustainability disclosures. In light of this newfound understanding, investors are anticipated to prefer companies with superior sustainability reports when making investment choices. This research evaluated the influence of sustainability disclosure on the valuations of publicly listed non-financial companies in Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated how the triple bottom line (TBL), encompassing economic, environmental, and social dimensions, affects firm value. Ex-post factor and longitudinal research methodologies were utilized. The total population comprised all 108 non-financial companies listed on the Nigerian Public Exchange as of December 31, 2023. Owing to the availability of comprehensive data, a purposive sampling method was applied to select 47 firms listed as of 2023. The data collected were sourced secondarily from the audited financial statements of the non-financial firms in Nigeria. The research spans a timeframe of 14 years, from 2010 to 2023. The analyzed data employed both descriptive and inferential (Fixed Random) statistical techniques. The results indicated that the TBL significantly influences firm value (Tobin’s Q). The specific findings for individual variables revealed that economic performance, which serves as an indicator of economic sustainability, is significant with a z-statistic of 2.08 and a p-value of 0.038; materials, representing environmental sustainability, is also significant with a z-statistic of -2.31 and a p-value of 0.021; and the non-discrimination policy, as a measure of social sustainability, is significant, presenting a p-value of 0.000 and a z-statistic of 4.18. It is advised that Nigeria’s listed non-financial institutions give priority to sustainability practices and share their sustainability performance with stakeholders to enhance their financial outcomes. Additionally, the study recommends that the government create a policy framework for sustainability disclosures and ensure adherence by establishing mechanisms and institutions for the implementation of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), particularly within manufacturing sectors.

Integration of Management Information Systems (MIS) into organizational strategies has garnered significant attention among academia and industry participants. This study specifically addresses the challenges faced by Nigerian firms in implementing MIS, such as infrastructure limitations, high costs, lack of skilled workforce, and data security concerns. This study delves into the critical roles of MIS in enhancing financial success, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage. This study reviewed various types of MIS, including Decision Support Systems (DSS), Transaction Processing Systems (TPS), and Executive Support Systems (ESS), and examines their influence on firm performance through empirical studies. This study confirmed that, the historical development of MIS is traced through five distinct eras, from the era of mainframe computing to the current cloud computing phase, illustrating how technological advancements have reshaped organizational management. Building on the foundational work of scholars, this study emphasizes the necessity for firms to effectively adopt and optimize MIS to achieve superior profitability. It highlights the relevance of MIS in the context of Nigeria's rapidly evolving business environment during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In conclusion, this study provides practical recommendations for policymakers, emphasizing the need for investment in infrastructure, capacity building, financial support, data security, innovation promotion, and change management. By addressing these challenges and leveraging MIS effectively, Nigerian firms can enhance their competitiveness and contribute to sustainable economic growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

This study investigated board attributes and financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to ascertain the effect of foreign ownership, board size, board meeting, board gender diversity on financial performance (proxied by Return on Equity .The study covered a period of ten (10) years ( 2014 to 2023). A multiple regression estimation approach was employed on information extracted from a sample consisting of sixteen (16) consumer goods companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group between the years 2014 to 2023. Panel Least Square regression technique was employed in estimating the data and testing the formulated hypotheses. The study reveals the existence of significant effect of foreign ownership, board size gender diversity on financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The study also discovered that board meeting, has no significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. In line with the findings, the study recommended that management of consumer goods companies in Nigeria should consider the reduction of number of meeting held in a year, doing this will help consumer goods companies to save cost which will in turn enhance financial performance of the sector. The study also  recommended that the idea of given more room to foreign investors should be discouraged, instead indigenous investors should be encouraged to own large portion of shares in our listed consumer goods companies, this is because the presence of more foreign investors will amount to expropriation of the firm values.

This study examined the relationship between customer feedback integration and service system performance of shopping malls in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated how feedback collection mechanisms and feedback analysis & interpretation influence service quality and operational efficiency. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted and the accessible population was 2,400 regular customers. A sample size of 343 were drawn from the population and a systematic sampling technique was adopted. only 309 valid respondents were used for the study. Data were collected using copies of a structured questionnaire and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS. The measurement model confirmed reliability and validity. Results indicate that feedback collection mechanisms significantly enhance service quality (β = 0.515, p = 0.000) and operational efficiency (β = 0.191, p = 0.001), though with a modest effect. Feedback analysis and interpretation demonstrated stronger relationships with both service quality (β = 0.276, p = 0.005) and operational efficiency (β = 0.770, p = 0.000). These findings highlight the critical role of systematic feedback integration in improving service delivery and operational outcomes. The study concludes that shopping malls must not only collect customer feedback but also rigorously analyse and apply it to achieve sustainable performance improvements. The study recommends amongst others that shopping malls should invest in diverse and accessible feedback collection channels (e.g., digital surveys, suggestion boxes, social media monitoring). This ensures that customer voices are consistently captured, thereby improving service quality responsiveness.

This study investigated the forensic accounting predictors on procurement fraud in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector. This study adopted a survey research design. The target population for this study was 206 staff of 8 major marketers in oil and gas company in Nigeria. The study collected primary data from the partakers through a structural questionnaire. The Primary data was obtained from the use of structured questionnaires. The population was two hundred and six (206) employees of the Audit and finance/Account department s from the 8 major marketers oil and gas company in Nigeria. The sample size was one hundred and thirty-six (136) respondents using stratified Sample technique with the use of Taro Yamane (1967) Model. Data were obtained through the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential (regression) statistics were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that there is a significant effect of forensic accounting techniques on procurement fraud in the oil & gas company in Nigeria with the Model fitting information telling how well model fit the data resulting in (P = 0.001) which is below the significant level. The study concluded that only forensic accounting technology knowledge reduces procurement fraud in the oil and gas companies in Nigeria, significantly. It is recommended that there should be continuous enforcement of anti-fraud laws by the established anti-fraud agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

This study investigates the influence of audit quality on the financial performance of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria, focusing on audit independence, audit firm size, audit fees, and audit report timeliness. Using an Ex-Post Facto research design, secondary data were collected from the annual reports of fifteen purposively selected firms over the period 2013–2022. The findings reveal that audit independence and timely audit reporting exert significant positive effects on firm performance, highlighting the importance of auditor objectivity and prompt financial disclosure in enhancing profitability and investor confidence. Conversely, audit firm size does not demonstrate a significant impact, indicating that engagement with large audit firms alone does not guarantee superior financial outcomes, while higher audit fees show a negative relationship with performance, suggesting that excessive costs may constrain short-term profitability. The study concludes that qualitative aspects of audit quality, particularly auditor independence and timeliness, are more critical to firm performance than structural characteristics such as audit firm size. Recommendations include promoting auditor independence through strengthened regulatory policies, emphasizing auditor competence and ethical standards over brand size, negotiating audit fees to balance quality and cost efficiency, and ensuring timely completion and dissemination of audit reports to improve transparency and sustain stakeholder confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.

This study focused on the Distributive Justice and Employee Commitment in Selected Tertiary Institutions In South East, Nigeria.  The objectives of this study is to investigate the effect of distributive justice and normative commitment, determine the relationship between distributive justice and affective commitment, examine the relationship between interactional justice and normative commitment of tertiary institutions in South East, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey design approach. Data obtained from both primary and secondary source using simple random sampling techniques. The total population of this study is fourteen thousand two hundred and eighty six (14286) while the sample size of the study was 389. The Simple Regressing Analysis and Pearson Correlation Coefficient statistical tools at 0.05 level of significance was used as the instrument reliability ratio. The analysis was enabled by the use of SPSS software. The findings revealed that distributive justice has a positive significant relationship with affective commitment of tertiary institutions in South East, Nigeria. P-value = 0.000 < 0.05% significance level. Distributive justice has a positive significant relationship with normative commitment of tertiary institutions in South East, Nigeria. P-value = 0.000 < 0.05% significance level. The study recommends among others that the management of selected institutions should continuously improve the workload, level of pay as well as the reward system is such that would bring about affective commitment of their employees of the institutions in the south east, Nigeria.

The escalation in the incidence of bank failures worldwide has garnered substantial attention in contemporary discourse. Such occurrences reverberate beyond the confines of the failed financial institutions, exerting adverse repercussions on stakeholders and occasionally permeating the broader non-banking sector. As a result, the study investigated the effect of Corporate Governance and Economic Crimes in Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. The study population was the 685 employees in the operation, finance, accounting and audit departments of 16 DMBs in Nigeria using stratified sampling technique. The Taro Yamane sample size was employed in selecting the 253 respondents for the study. The study used primary data via a well-structured five-Likert scale dimension. Findings revealed that corporate governance have significant effect on Misappropriation of assets (Adj R2 = 0.519, F(9, 223) = 28.79, p < 0.05). The study concluded that corporate governance had significant effect on misappropriation of assets of DMBs in Nigeria. The study recommended that Management of deposit money banks should institute a well effective internal control system for effective corporate governance for smooth operations and reduction of economic crimes to the barest minimum.

Enhancing financial inclusion has become more prominent across the globe as a result of its strategic role in sustaining socio-economic growth and development. Thus, this study was undertaken to assess the link between financial inclusion and economic development in Nigeria. The study specifically examined the extent to which financial inclusion (proxied by number of bank branches per 100,000 adult) and financial deepening, among other factors, affect the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. Times series data obtained from the World Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 1990 to 2021, which were analyzed using the least square multiple regression technique. The result indicated that financial inclusion and financial deepening has significant positive and negative effect on economic development, respectively. Thus, increasing financial access has the potential to stimulate a higher level of economic development. This study therefore advocates for more concerted effort in driving financial inclusion, especially through commercial branch expansion – which should target the rural areas – through agency banking as well as through increased digital financial services offerings. 

The market provides an objective valuation basis through the forces of demand and supply of knowledgeable participants. Firms must provide the needed information for these market participant to make informed decisions. Sustainability of firm has not been priced in because of absence of such information and understanding of associated benefits. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of sustainability practices exert on market value of listed firms on the Nigerian Exchange Group. The study adopted ex post facto research design with the use of a static panel data, stratified sampling technique was adopted in selecting 26 firms from the population of 168 firms listed on the Nigeria exchange [as at December 31,2020]. The data was analyzed using multiple regression.Findings revealed that proxies of sustainability practices reacted in various ways to market value of sampled firms. ECSP (P=0.400) and EVSP (P=0.504) have a significant effect on total asset (TA), while SOSP and GOSP insignificantly affect TA (SOSP: p=0.027; GOSP: P=0.028). Considering the coefficients of the explanatory variables; ECSP (α = 2.199); SOSP (α = 0.193); and EVSP (α = 0.551) indicate that ECSP, SOSP, and EVSP positively affect TA while GOSP (α = - 0.141) has negative effect on TA. While firm size provides significant controlling effect on the interactions. Overall, sustainability does exert statistical significant influence on the market value of selected listed firm on the Nigeria exchange. However with the control variable of firm size, this interaction became significant.In conclusion, various dimensions of sustainability practices reacted in various ways to market value of sampled firms, firms’ size has a significant control on this interaction. The study recommended that the management of companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group should engage in full sustainability practices vis-à-vis governance, social, environmental and economic sustainability practices to enjoy positive valuation in the market thereby improving market value. The study also recommended that market participants should consider proxies of sustainability in the determination of offer and bid price.

This study seeks to assess the influence of audit company qualities on financial reporting timeliness. The non-oil manufacturing companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) that have been in operation since at least the year 2000 make up the study's population. 71 samples from the entire population were chosen for this investigation using simple random selection. The study's data came from published annual reports of the companies chosen for the study. Multiple regression analysis was employed in the study to analyse the data, and the E-view 8.0 statistical tools were used to estimate the model's parameters. The study used the analysis of pooled data. The results of the study show that audit fee has a negative but not statistically significant influence on timely financial reporting, audit firm size has a positive and statistically significant effect, and audit tenure and joint audit have a negative and statistically significant effect. The study suggests, among other things: that businesses should not always seek out audit firms that charge high fees because doing so does not guarantee a swift completion of the audit work; that businesses should not switch audit firms too frequently because this will allow the auditor to use their experience to ensure a swift completion of the audit work for early and timely financial reporting; and that businesses should engage joint auditors in order to benefit from the synergistic advantages that can be derived from doing so.

This study examines the relationship between conceptualization as a critical thinking skill and administrative effectiveness in public tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Three research objectives and three research questions guided the study. The study was anchored on the Systems Theory. The study employed an exploratory research design and relied on an extensive review of literature to analyze how conceptualization influences decision-making, resource management, and conflict resolution within higher education administration. The study shows that conceptualization positively influences decision-making by enabling administrators to anticipate challenges, weigh alternatives, and develop proactive strategies rather than relying on reactive responses. The study concludes that conceptualization is indispensable for effective leadership in public tertiary institutions and recommends for targeted training and also adopt conceptual frameworks that promote participatory decision-making, transparent communication, and inclusive negotiation to resolve conflicts and prevent recurrence.

This study examines the relationship between conceptualization as a critical thinking skill and administrative effectiveness in public tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Three research objectives and three research questions guided the study. The study was anchored on the Systems Theory. The study employed an exploratory research design and relied on an extensive review of literature to analyze how conceptualization influences decision-making, resource management, and conflict resolution within higher education administration. The study shows that conceptualization positively influences decision-making by enabling administrators to anticipate challenges, weigh alternatives, and develop proactive strategies rather than relying on reactive responses. The study concludes that conceptualization is indispensable for effective leadership in public tertiary institutions and recommends for targeted training and also adopt conceptual frameworks that promote participatory decision-making, transparent communication, and inclusive negotiation to resolve conflicts and prevent recurrence.