Wellspring University Journal of Social and Management Sciences

This paper presents an in-depth investigation into the impact of digital transformation on business process efficiency of commercial banks in Delta State with specific reference to selected branches of Zenith, UBA, and First Bank located in Agbor and Asaba. It is important to note that the research utilized quantitative survey design by employing a structured questionnaire to elicit information from 400 respondents including operation officers, customer services managers, technological managers, and corporate accounts managers (Davis, 1989; Rogers, 1995). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square multiple regression analysis through IBM SPSS Statistics version 28. Indeed, the study revealed that digital transformation accounts for 58.4% of the differences in the operating performance of the selected banks’ branches (R = 0.764, R 2 = 0.584, F = 185.30, p < 0.001). Specifically, the Omni-channel banking platforms in the selected banks accelerate transaction processes (β = 0.412, t = 8.12, p < 0.001). At the same time, automated clearing and settlement systems in the selected banks reduce recurrent interest-bearing expenditures (β = 0.389, t = 7.64, p < 0.001). Besides, digital infrastructure optimization in the local communities reduces frequent disconnection reports and mismatched ledger entries (β = 0.475, t = 9.88, p < 0.001). Therefore, the study suggests that banks should consider regional server mirrors, stand-alone industrial electricity networks, and localized technical training to completely eliminate operating delays and increase customer trust.

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the influence of strategic flexibility on firm resilience of manufacturing firms in South-South Nigeria with specific reference to firms in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta States. Thus, the study utilizes a quantitative survey design by adopting questionnaires to elicit information from 400 respondents including operations directors, risk assessment managers, supply chain controllers, and corporate planning executives. The data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square multiple regressions using IBM-SPSS Statistics Version 28. Indeed, the study reveals that strategic flexibility explains 58.4% of the variations in the firm resilience of the selected manufacturing enterprises (R = 0.764, R2 = 0.584, F = 185.30, p < 0.001). Specifically, the operational flexibility frameworks in the selected firms accelerate production adaptive response (β = 0.412, t = 8.12, p < 0.001). At the same time, the tactical market diversification models in the selected firms reduce operational disruption vulnerabilities (β = 0.389, t = 7.64, p < 0.001). Besides, the strategic capability buffer adjustments in the presence of macroeconomic variance reduce supply chain failure rates and resource matching errors (β = 0.475, t = 9.88, p < 0.001). Therefore, the study proposes that manufacturing firms consider localizing supply logistics, adopting alternative regional energy grids, and continuous skill training to totally eliminate disruption friction and increase corporate survival capabilities.

The importance of small and medium scale enterprises has not been in doubt; unfortunately, classifying business into large and medium scale is subjective and premised on different value judgment. Such classification has followed different criteria such as employment, sales or investment for defining small and medium scale enterprises. Poverty includes inadequate income, shelter, public infrastructure, protection of poorer groups, voicelessness and powerlessness within the political system and bureaucratic structures leading to little or no possibility of receiving entitlements; organizing, making demands and getting a fair response. This research work shall conceptualize the effect of poverty on small and medium scale enterprises.

It has been estimated that 850 million adult illiterates are in the developing countries, and over 200 million functional illiterates in the industrial world. The illiterates are still in larger numbers even after 550 years after Gothenburg invented the art of printing. Information and communication technology in the past decade has advanced tremendously in pushing the world to a global village. The effect of ICT in relation to poverty reduction in Nigeria and Rivers state in particular has been silent, as far as this study is concerned. If knowledge acquired from the use of ICT equipment cannot be translated to better and improve lives, then it is not worth it. From 1980 till 1999, the level of poverty has not been stable, but seems to be almost the same rate with that of 1999 to 2015. The present paper takes a pragmatic review of how the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) leads to poverty reduction in Rivers State

Ethical values play an important role in improving employee development, organizational flexibility, and long-term public service effectiveness and performance, few empirical studies have examined how ethical values influence learning and growth outcomes in subnational public institutions. This study therefore assessed the effect of ethical values proxied by transparency, loyalty, fairness and integrity on learning and growth perspective of the employees of the public sector of Osun State, Nigeria. The study used descriptive survey research design while the data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to sampled public sector workers in selected ministries in Osun State. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the influence of transparency on learning and growth was positive and significant with t value = 3.214 and p value = 0.001; the influence of fairness on learning and growth was also positive  and significant with t value = 4.562 and p value < 0.001; and the influence of integrity on learning and growth was positive and significant with t value = 2.876 and p value = 0.004; the influence of loyalty on learning and growth was not significant with t value = -1.112 and p value = 0.267. The model was statistically significant (F = 38.742, p< 0.001) with a high explanatory power for employee learning and growth outcomes by ethical values. The study revealed that ethical values have a positive effect on the development of employees in public institutions, and it is recommended that strengthening ethical governance in public institutions is done through the implementation of policies, the commitment of the head, and continuing to ensure that public employees are trained in ethical values to improve the capacity of employees and increase the performance of public institutions.

This study examines the relationship between liquidity management, cash flow efficiency, and firm profitability using multivariate statistical techniques. The study employed an expo facto research design and collected secondary data from the sampled firm`s annual reports and accounts for 10 years. Drawing on a sample of 55 firm-year observations, the study evaluates the effects of the operating cash flow ratio (OCFR), current ratio (CURR), and cash asset ratio (CASR) on return on assets (ROA). Descriptive statistics indicate moderate profitability and liquidity across the sampled firms, with ROA averaging 1.75 and liquidity ratios exhibiting noticeable dispersion. Skewness and kurtosis measures fall within acceptable thresholds, supporting the suitability of the data for parametric analysis. Pearson correlation results reveal exceptionally strong and statistically significant positive associations between ROA and OCFR (r = 0.992), CURR (r = 0.985), and CASR (r = 0.990), all at the 1% significance level. Multiple regression analysis further demonstrates that the model possesses very high explanatory power (R² = 0.994), indicating that liquidity and cash-flow variables jointly explain approximately 99.4% of the variation in ROA. The operating cash flow ratio and current ratio exert positive and statistically significant effects on profitability, while the cash asset ratio becomes insignificant in the multivariate model due to severe multicollinearity. Multivariate tests (Pillai’s Trace, Wilks’ Lambda, Hotelling’s Trace, and Roy’s Largest Root) confirm that ROA has a highly significant multivariate effect, with partial eta squared values approaching unity. Overall, the findings underscore the critical role of operating cash flow efficiency and short-term liquidity management in enhancing asset-based profitability. The study provides robust empirical evidence that effective liquidity and cash-flow management are central determinants of firm performance, with important implications for management accounting practice and financial decision-making.

This study investigates the effect of fair value accounting and historical cost accounting on the profitability of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the effects of property, plant, and equipment valuation, fair value hierarchy measurements, and inventory valuation on profit after tax under both accounting regimes. The study adopted an ex post facto research design and utilized secondary data obtained from the audited annual reports and accounts of selected listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Profitability was measured using the natural logarithm of profit after tax (LOGPAT), while the explanatory variables included property, plant, and equipment (LOGPPE), fair value hierarchy proxies (LOGFHP), and inventory valuation (LOGINV). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression techniques. The findings showed that the historical cost model explained 20.66% of the variations in profitability, whereas the fair value model explained 33.39%, indicating that fair value accounting has greater explanatory power. The results further revealed that property, plant, and equipment had a positive but insignificant effect on profitability under both accounting methods. In addition, fair value hierarchy measurements positively influenced profitability, while inventory valuation had a significant negative effect on profit under the fair value model. The study concluded that fair value accounting provides more relevant and useful information for evaluating corporate profitability than historical cost accounting. Consequently, the study recommends improved adoption and implementation of fair value accounting practices and more effective valuation procedures to reduce earnings volatility and enhance the quality of financial reporting. The study implies that the adoption of fair value accounting can enhance the quality, relevance, and usefulness of financial reporting, thereby improving investment decisions, corporate governance, and the efficiency of financial markets. 

This study investigates the effect of tax rebates on economic growth in Nigeria. Specifically, it examines the effects of corporate income tax incentives, capital allowance incentives, customs duty incentives, and excise tax incentives on economic growth. An ex-post facto research design was adopted to establish the causal relationship between tax rebates and economic growth. Secondary data covering the period from 2004 to 2023 were obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data were analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression technique to determine the effects of the selected tax incentives on economic growth. The findings indicate that corporate income tax incentives, capital allowance incentives, customs duty incentives, and excise tax incentives each have a statistically significant positive effect on economic growth at the 5% level of significance. The study therefore concludes that tax rebates constitute an important fiscal policy instrument for stimulating economic growth in Nigeria. By reducing tax burdens and encouraging investment, production, and business expansion, tax incentives can contribute to improved economic performance. The study recommends that the Nigerian government establish clear, transparent, and accessible criteria for granting tax rebates. Such criteria should minimize ambiguity, reduce administrative barriers, and ensure that eligible businesses can effectively access available tax incentives. 

This study analyzes the dynamic impact of government capital expenditure on Nigeria's economic growth from the first quarter of 2000 to the fourth quarter of 2023. Capital expenditure was categorized into four primary sectors: expenditures on social and community services, economic services, administrative services, and transfers. Government efficacy was utilized as a control variable, whilst the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate functioned as a proxy for economic growth. Data were obtained from the World Bank's World Development Indicators and the Central Bank of Nigeria's Statistical Bulletin. The limits testing methodology for cointegration validated a long-term equilibrium association between capital spending and economic growth. Empirical findings indicated that governmental capital expenditure on social and community services (such as education and health) and on economic services (including agriculture, energy, and infrastructure) exerted a statistically significant and beneficial impact on GDP growth in both the short and long term. Conversely, spending on administrative services and transfers, while positively correlated with GDP, was deemed statistically insignificant, indicating potential inefficiencies or no economic impact. Unexpectedly, government efficacy had a negative and negligible correlation with growth, indicating institutional deficiencies and governance obstacles. The results highlight the essential importance of productive capital investment in expediting economic growth. Consequently, it is advised that the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning augment capital allocations for social and economic services, where investment returns are evidently substantial-augmenting. 

This study examines the relationships between beyond-classroom learning and entrepreneurial readiness among Business Education postgraduate students in Rivers State public universities. Three dimensions were examined: experiential enterprise activities, entrepreneurial networking, and selfdirected digital entrepreneurial learning. Two theories, Experiential Learning Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, guided the study; three research questions were answered and three null hypotheses tested. A cross-sectional correlational survey covered a population of 144 postgraduate students at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (87) and Rivers State University (57). Yamane’s formula yielded a proportionately allocated sample of 106, selected through stratified random sampling. A validated four-point Beyond-Classroom Learning and Entrepreneurial Readiness Questionnaire collected data. Pearson’s product-moment correlation analyzed the data at 0.05. Hypothetical results showed significant positive relationships between readiness and experiential enterprise activities, with a correlation coefficient of .452; mentoring and networking, with a coefficient of .365; and self-directed digital learning, with a coefficient of .576. Probability values were below .001, and digital learning recorded the strongest relationship. The study concluded that practical experience, social guidance, and technology use provide complementary pathways to entrepreneurial readiness. It recommended supervised enterprise projects, structured mentoring partnerships, accessible digital resources, and verification through ethically conducted field research. 

This study investigates digitized data capturing and organizational performance of tertiary institutions in Rivers State. The study adopted the correlational research design. The population of the study comprised the three thousand and seven (3007) academic staff in the four selected public tertiary institutions in Rivers State. A sample of three hundred and forty-six (346) respondents were selected. A 30-item self-structured instrument titled “Digitized Data Capturing and Organizational Performance of Tertiary Institutions Scale” (DDCOPTIS) was used to collect data. Collected data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) to answer research questions 1 and 2, Multiple Regression Analysis to answer research question 3 at 0.05 significance level. The study revealed r values of 0.746, and 0.689 with same p < .001 indicated a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation between digitized data capturing (DDC), and the decision-making process, and productivity respectively in tertiary institutions in Rivers State. The result showed that the regression model is significant (F(2,318)=288.45, p

This study examines the effect of environmental reporting disclosure on the financial performance of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Specifically, it evaluates the influence of emission and energy disclosure, effluents and waste disclosure, and compliance with environmental laws and regulations on firm performance measured by return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). An ex-post facto research design was adopted using panel data obtained from the annual reports and Nigerian Exchange Group fact books of seven listed oil and gas firms for the period 2014–2023. The data were analysed using Panel Least Squares and Huber Robust regression techniques. The findings indicate that emission and energy disclosure has a significant negative effect on ROA and ROE, suggesting that environmental compliance costs may reduce short-term profitability. Compliance with environmental regulations shows a positive and significant effect on ROA, while effluents and waste disclosure has no significant effect on financial performance. The study concludes that although environmental disclosure enhances corporate legitimacy and sustainability, it may exert short-term financial pressure on firms. The study recommends improved cost-efficient environmental strategies and stronger regulatory frameworks to promote transparent and timely environmental reporting in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

The study investigated green technology and performance of multinational oil corporations in South-South, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to determine the effect of energy efficiency technology on the financial sustainability, assess the effect of green technology competencies on corporate social responsibility of multinational oil corporations in South-South. The research design used in the study was a survey design. The researcher adopted mainly primary sources of data. The total population was seventy-nine thousand seven hundred and sixty-five (79,765) respondents from the selected six states in South-South, Nigeria. A total of five hundred and ninety five (595) copies of questionnaire was administered to the selected Multinational Oil Corporations in South-South, Nigeria, during the collection of the administered questionnaire, eight one (81) copies questionnaires were wrongly filled, misplaced, void and discarded with a percentage rate of 13.6%, while the questionnaire recovered is 514 with a percentage ratio of 86.4% that aided the study. The sample size was 595 staff derived from Godden formula (2004). Simple regression analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the relationships between dependent and independent variables of the study. The findings of the study stated that there is a positive effect between energy efficiency technology on the financial sustainability of multinational oil corporations in South-South. There is a positive effect between green technology competencies on corporate social responsibility of multinational oil corporations in South-South. The study concluded that if companies adopt green technology it will help in overcoming the technological challenges of emitting Co2 in the atmosphere and waste pollution that leads environment degradation, this will aid to achieving a proper balance of higher organizational performance and gaining competitive advantage. The study recommended that firms should regularly reduce reliance on fossil fuels for company operations and promote energy efficiency initiatives, also investing in green technologies demonstrates responsible corporate behavior and strengthens public trust

This study explores the nexus between drug abuse and the rising wave of criminal activities among youths in Bori Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, Nigeria. Framed within criminological and sociological perspectives, the research draws upon empirical evidence derived from interviews with community leaders, law enforcement officers, youth representatives, and health practitioners. Findings reveal that drug abuse functions as both a symptom and driver of socio-economic marginalization, unemployment, and weak family structures. The historical context of Bori, once the headquarters of the Ogoni struggle and a hub for youth activism, is now overshadowed by escalating drug use—particularly cannabis, codeine-based syrups, and synthetic substances—which correlates with increased incidences of theft, cult-related violence, and armed robbery. The research demonstrates that drug abuse lowers inhibitions, fosters deviant subcultures, and exacerbates social exclusion, thereby entrenching cycles of poverty and insecurity. Participants emphasized inadequate government intervention, porous drug supply networks, and the normalization of drug culture among youths as key enablers of the crisis. This paper argues for integrated policy responses combining community-based rehabilitation, law enforcement reform, youth empowerment programmes, and interfaith engagement to dismantle the structural conditions sustaining the drug–crime nexus. The study contributes to debates in youth studies, criminology, and African development research by situating the experiences of Bori youths within broader patterns of drug-induced criminality in Nigeria.