FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

This study investigated the effect of total reward on employee performance among academic staff at the University of Benin. Total reward has been recognised as a comprehensive approach that integrates financial and non-financial incentives to enhance employee motivation, satisfaction, and productivity. The specific objectives of the study were:  To examine the effect of compensation on employee performance.  To determine the extent to which benefits affect employee performance.  To assess whether work–life balance has a significant impact on employee performance.  To identify whether recognition influences employee performance.  To evaluate the relationship between development and employee performance. A survey research design was adopted, with structured questionnaires administered to 115 academic staff using a purposive sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that compensation (p = .356) and benefits (p = .921) had positive but statistically insignificant effects on employee performance, while work–life balance (p = .136) also showed a positive but non-significant relationship. Recognition (p = .038) and development (p = .001) exhibited significant positive effects on employee performance. The regression model indicated that total reward components collectively explained 35.5% of the variance in employee performance (R² = .355, F = 11.976, p < .05). The study concludes that recognition and development are the most influential components of total reward in enhancing employee performance, while compensation and benefits primarily serve to sustain satisfaction and retention. It recommends that universities strengthen recognition systems, invest in continuous staff development, and implement integrated reward frameworks that balance both monetary and non-monetary incentives to promote long-term academic excellence and institutional productivity.

This study examines the impact of credit risk modeling techniques on the performance of life insurance companies in Nigeria., focusing on a sample of 12 life insurance companies in Nigeria over the period 2018 to 2024. The variables analyzed included credit scoring, structural model and Altman Z-score model. Various statistical and econometric tools were applied to analyze the data. The findings revealed that credit scoring and Altman Z-score model have positive and statistically insignificant effects on the financial performance of life insurance companies in Nigeria, while the structural model has a negative and statistically insignificant influence on the financial performance of life insurance companies in Nigeria. Based on these findings, the study recommended that life insurance firms in Nigeria strengthen the adoption and integration of credit scoring systems using advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence and firms should review and customize structural models to better suit the operational and regulatory environment of the Nigerian insurance industry.

This study investigates the impact of board diversity on financial performance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, focusing on national, ethnic, age, and gender diversity as key dimensions. The population comprises all twelve oil and gas companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group as of December 31, 2022, with a census approach capturing the entire population as the sample. Panel data methodology, specifically Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, is employed to account for potential time-series variation and firm-specific effects in the analysis, using Earnings Per Share (EPS) as a proxy for financial performance. The study finds that ethnic and age diversity have a statistically significant positive impact on EPS, suggesting that a diverse mix of ethnic backgrounds and age groups within boards enhances financial outcomes. In contrast, national and gender diversity how no significant effect on EPS, indicating that these diversity dimensions may hold less influence in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The study recommends that companies in this sector prioritize ethnic and age diversity in board composition to improve financial performance, while policymakers and corporate leaders are encouraged to foster initiatives that support diverse perspectives, optimizing board effectiveness and shareholder wealth.

This study aimed to empirically examine the impact of training and development on the achievement of organizational goals among managers of Access Bank Plc. To guide the study, three research questions were raised, and three hypotheses were generated. The survey adopted a survey research design approach which sought to understand the impact of training and development on employee performance in Access Bank Plc, Benin City, ,. Edo determine the sample size from the population, and after due computation, a sample of 115 respondents was arrives at. The study utilized a questionnaire as the research instrument to sample the opinions of the managers on the subject matter. A total of 115 questionnaires were distributed, however, only I00 were retrieved. The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages, mean and standard deviation while linear regression was used to determine the impact of training and development on the achievement of organizational goals. Findings obtained from the analysis of the data indicated that staff training and development has a strong and positive impact on the achievement of organizational goals. Also, it was found that there is a significant relationship between staff training and development on the achievement of organizational goals. Based on the findings, the study recommends amongst others that organization should invest comprehensive and tailored programs that align closely with organizational goals. This could involve clear communication of training objectives and expectation to employees and identifying and
addressing barriers and challenges in implementing training programs..

This study examined the impact of the perception of compensation management practices on employee performance in the hospitality industry in Benin City, Nigeria. Specifically, it explored the relationships between salaries and wages, fringe benefits, staff allowances, incentives, and training opportunities and their influence on employee performance. A survey research design, specifically the cross-sectional variant, was adopted. The study population comprised all employees in the hospitality industry in Benin City, and a stratified random sampling technique was used to select a representative sample of 385 respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, with a retrieval rate of 98%, and analysed through descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 24. Findings revealed that fringe benefits, allowances for staff, and incentives had a positive significant correlation with employees' performance, which testifies the importance of both monetary and non-onetary
rewards in motivating employees. However, wages and salaries did not statistically significantly impact performance, i.e., base pay alone may not be the productivity driver for the hospitality sector. Opportunities for training had a strong but weak positive relationship with performance, i.e., better organised and industry-specific training programmes need to be implemented. Based on these findings, the study recommended that hospitality organizations adopt an overall compensation policy by offering attractive fringe benefits, staff allowances formalized, and properly designed incentive schemes to enhance employees' motivation and performance. Besides, training programmes need to be developed according to the functional needs of employees in order to realize their full potential

The study investigated the factors that determine students academic performance with the Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Benin as the geographical scope. The study aimed at investigating how some factors such as socioeconomic factors, instructional quality and teaching methods, motivation and student engagement determine the academic outcome of students. The study sample consisted of one hundred (100) students from the faculty. A survey research design was adopted eliciting the use of a structured questionnaire in obtaining responses from the respondents on the subject. Descriptive statistical method and regression statistical method were applied to analyze the data and investigate the factors that determine students academic performance. The findings in the study identified that socioeconomic factors has a significant positive effect on academic performance. The study confirms that instructional quality and teaching methods significantly impact academic performance. The study also confirms that student motivation and engagement exert a significant positive effect on academic performance.

This study examines the impact of insurance risk management on gross fixed capital formation in Nigeria. The research objectives are to evaluate the impact of life, motor, fire, and accident insurance claims on gross fixed capital formation in Nigeria, determine the factors that influence insurance risk management, and investigate the relationship between insurance risk management and gross fixed capital formation in Nigeria. The study employs an ex-post facto research design, targeting all registered insurance companies in Nigeria and using secondary data collected over a period of 23 years. The findings suggest that motor and fire insurance claims have a significant impact on gross fixed capital formation in Nigeria, while life and accident insurance claims do not have a significant impact. It was recommended, among others, that the Nigerian government should invest in creating an environment that encourages proper risk management practices within the insurance industry. This could include incentivizing companies to conduct risk assessments, develop risk management strategies and invest in risk management technologies.

The study examined the determinants of environmental disclosures in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Secondary data was retrieved from the corporate annual reports of the sampled companies. Descriptive statistics, ordinary lease square, analysis, endogenuity test, fixed and random effect estimation, Hausuan tests were all carried out. Regression tests such as normality, multicolliinsarity, heteroskidasticity and serial correlation were also carried out, the study revealed that profitability exerted a positive and statistically
significant impact on environmental disclosure, leverage exerted a negative impact but statically significant. Company size has no significant impact. There is a significant evaluating effect of foreign domestic ownership ratio on the relationship between firm size, lavage, financial performance and environmental disclosures. We therefore recommend that firms doing well financially should pay more attention to environmental reporting, firms irrespective of their leverage level should improve their environmental performance; both small and big firms should improve their environmental performance and that, the presence of more foreign-domestic ownership will lead to more robust disclosures of environmental issues.

This study investigates the impact of real estate financing on economic growth in Nigeria, by analyzing its effects on Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Specifically, the study aims to evaluate the contribution of FDI, mortgage financing, and commercial real estate loans to the nation’s economic performance, providing actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. A longitudinal, ex-post facto research design was adopted, utilizing panel data from 2014 to 2023. Data were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS), and reports from financial institutions and real estate firms. Panel data analysis was employed to capture both cross-sectional and time-specific effects, ensuring a robust assessment of the relationships between the variables. The findings reveal that all three dimensions of real estate financing significantly contribute to Nigeria's economic growth. FDI in real estate fosters capital inflow, infrastructure development, and job creation. Mortgage financing enhances housing accessibility and stimulates economic activity in the construction and housing sectors. Commercial real estate loans enable business expansion, infrastructure development, and increased urbanization, further boosting GDP. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the Nigerian government create a conducive environment for FDI by simplifying regulatory processes, ensuring macroeconomic stability, and offering investment incentives. Policies should also focus on improving access to affordable mortgage financing through innovative financing models, reduced interest rates, and expanded credit availability. Additionally, financial institutions should be incentivized to provide more commercial real estate loans by reducing associated risks and offering tax benefits for such lending

This study investigated the effect of leadership styles on organisational performance in the hospitality sector in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, focusing on six selected hotels: Protea Hotel, Precious Palm Royal Hotel, Uyi Grand Hotel, Western Villa Hotel, Limoh Suites, and El-Hassani Hotel. The research adopted a quantitative survey design, and data were collected from 134 employees using structured questionnaires. The analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22, applying both descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to assess the influence of five leadership styles—transformational, transactional, laissezfaire, autocratic, and participative—on organisational performance. The results revealed that transformational leadership had a strong and statistically significant positive effect on organisational performance (β = 0.505, p < 0.001), followed by transactional leadership, which also showed a significant positive influence (β = 0.220, p = 0.021). However, laissez-faire, autocratic, and participative leadership styles demonstrated positive but statistically insignificant effects, indicating that while they may be perceived as supportive, they do not contribute meaningfully to measurable performance outcomes in the hotel industry. The study recommends targeted investment in leadership development programs that emphasise vision, motivation, and innovation. The research contributes to the leadership-performance discourse by providing context-specific empirical evidence from the Nigerian hotel industry and calls for further investigation into sectoral and behavioural mediators of leadership effectiveness.