FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

This study examines the pivotal role of accounting in the framework of poverty reduction programs, emphasizing the critical dimensions of transparency and accountability in Nigeria. Through the distribution and analysis of 100 structured questionnaires, data were collected from a diverse group of stakeholders, including accountants, financial officers, program managers, and representatives from non-governmental and community-based organizations involved in poverty alleviation initiatives. The research adopts both descriptive and regression analysis methods, aligning the results with the study's primary objectives. Findings underscore that effective accounting practices significantly enhance financial transparency and accountability, which in turn contribute to more efficient resource management in poverty reduction schemes. Transparency in financial reporting fosters trust between stakeholders and promotes the prudent utilization of funds, ensuring they reach the intended beneficiaries. Simultaneously, accountability mechanisms—including adherence to clear policies, external audits, and stakeholder involvement—are demonstrated to mitigate corruption, enhance program oversight, and improve overall outcomes. Moreover, the study reveals a robust positive correlation between poverty reduction and the independent variables—accounting practices, transparency, and accountability. Statistical analyses confirm the significance of these factors, with 82.2% of variance in poverty reduction explained by the regression model. This highlights the intertwined relationship between these dimensions and their collective contribution to sustainable poverty alleviation.

This study looks at tax reforms and economic development of Nigeria with the major objectives of identifying the relationship that exist in the reforms on Company Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT) compliance and investment (INV) and the economic development of Nigeria. Secondary data were extracted from the verified sites of the federal inland revenue service and the central bank of Nigeria. The regression analysis was used to identify the impact of the relationship between the dependent and independent variables under study. It was discovered that; there is a positive and significant relationship between economic development proxy by GDP and CIT, CGT and INV. However, a negative relationship exist between GDP and VAT. It was recommended that; government should continue its reforms in the areas of company income tax, capital gains tax and compliance and investment.

This study is to empirically examines the relationship between trade liberaliazation, stock market and economic development in Nigeria.The study present both procedure and the analytical techniques that the research engages in carrying out the investigation on the impact of capital market on the Nigeria economy. This study adopts the census sampling technique were the population and of the study is the Nigeria economy. The Nigeria economy is chosen as a result of the high inflow of foreign capital as participation in international trade. The Nigeria stock market being the largest in West Africa also makes it the focus of
this study. This research adopts the causal research design which is a type of ex post factor research design. Causal research design is aimed at analyzing the relationship and patterns between two variables.This study was conducted to investigate the impact of trade liberalization, stock market performance and economic development in Nigeria. To this effect, the FMOLS was adopted on time series data that spanned 1987-2020. The result findings were found to be robust to both data manipulations and specifications. From empirical analysis, a general outcome of the study indicates that trade liberalization has had no
significant impact on economic development. Trade openness was found to have a negative and insignificant relationship with economic development in Nigeria.Financial openness had a positive and significant relationship with economic development in Nigeria. Finally, government should make policy to protect local firms and the security exchange commission
must increase the depth and breadth of the market.

This study investigates the impact of taxation on income redistribution and various economic factors in Nigeria. The primary objectives are to assess how taxation influences income inequality, commodity purchase behavior, export promotion, inflation control, and the protection of infant industries. Through a comprehensive analysis, the study finds that taxation significantly affects income inequality and highlights a notable difference in the taxation of goods considered "bad" compared to other goods. The results also indicate that tax policies in Nigeria play a critical role in government revenue generation, export promotion, inflation control, and the protection of emerging industries. The study concludes that effective taxation policies can lead to more equitable wealth distribution, healthier consumption patterns, enhanced government revenue, increased exports, controlled inflation, and the growth of nascent industries. However, the success of these policies depends on efficient tax
administration, compliance, and the integration of complementary economic measures. Recommendations include improving tax collection systems, enhancing tax progressivity, increasing taxes on harmful goods, and providing targeted tax incentives for export-oriented and emerging industries. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by offering empirical
xiii evidence on the multifaceted impact of taxation in Nigeria and provides a foundation for policymakers to develop more effective tax strategies to foster sustainable economic development.

This empirical study investigated the impact of non-bank financial institutions on economic development in Nigeria from 2003 to 2022. Specifically, the research aimed to determine the impact of Primary Mortgage Institutions Total Assets and Economic Development in Nigeria; the impact of Finance Companies Total Assets and Economic Development in Nigeria, and the impact of inflation rate on GDP per capita of Nigerians. Secondary data on gross domestic product (GDP), Primary Mortgage Institutions Total Assets (PMITA), Finance Companies Total Assets (FCTA) and Insurance Companies Total Assets (ICTA) were sourced from CBN Statistical Bulletins and statistical Directory of the National Insurance Commission from the period of 2003 to 2022. The methodology adopted was Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The findings reveal that there is a significant relationship between Primary Mortgage Institutions Total Assets and economic development in Nigeria; also, that there is a significant relationship between Finance Companies Total Assets and economic development. And finally, a significant relationship between Insurance Companies Total Assets and economic development in Nigeria. The study recommended that; the government should establish a conducive environment, potentially through tax holidays and concessions, to foster the swift growth of the Non-Bank Financial industry; there should be restructuring and consolidations implemented in the insurance industry; and finally, Nigerian Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) should assume a more robust role to augment housing delivery.

This study examines the impact of mentorship programs on the success of small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Benin City, To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the study surveyed Osa-RT ventures and Edo choice transport limited, located in Benin city. The researcher adopted questionnaire in collecting relevant i formation for the study, the analysis is based on responses from 49 participants out of the 50 questionnaires distributed, resulting in a 98% response rate. The study highlight key factors that contribute to effective mentorship and the challenges SMEs face in accessing these programs. The research employs a quantitative approach, analyzing data through Pearson correlation coefficients. Findings indicate a strong positive correlation between access to mentorship and SME success (r = 0.471, p < 0.01), demonstrating that mentorship significantly enhances business performance. Additionally, successful mentorship relationships are influenced by factors such as goal alignment, regular communication, and mentor expertise (r = 0.297, p < 0.05). However, SMEs face challenges in accessing mentorship due to lack of awareness, difficulty in finding suitable mentors, and financial constraints (r = 0.505, p < 0.01). The study further establishes that improving mentorship access correlates with better SME performance (r = 0.645, p < 0.01). Based on these findings, recommendations include It is important to improve awareness of mentorship programs through targeted outreach and marketing, Mentorship programs should be designed to ensure clear goal alignment and facilitate regular communication between mentors and mentees and Mentorship programs should be customized to meet the specific needs and constraints of SMEs.

This study examined auditing as a strategic approach to ensuring accountability and transparency in Nigerian firms. The research specifically assessed the effects of audit frequency, audit quality, and audit independence on accountability and transparency among ten (10) listed service firms on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) between 2019 and 2024. Secondary data were extracted from the firms’ annual reports, while the analysis was conducted using EViews 13 through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel least squares regression techniques. The descriptive results revealed a relatively high level of accountability and transparency among the sampled firms, with moderate variations in audit practices. The correlation analysis showed strong positive associations between all auditing variables and accountability and transparency, suggesting that improvements in audit mechanisms enhance corporate openness. The regression analysis indicated that audit frequency (β = 0.0276, p = 0.016) and audit quality (β = 0.0629, p = 0.000) have significant positive effects on accountability and transparency, while audit independence (β = 0.0121, p = 0.052) had a positive but statistically insignificant influence. The overall model had an R-squared value of 0.799, indicating that approximately 79.9% of the variations in accountability and transparency were explained by the three audit variables.

This study examined the impact of accounting expertise and auditing procedures on the sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Edo State, Nigeria. The purpose was to determine how accounting knowledge, professional auditing practices, and the adoption of standard financial systems influence SME performance, operational ef iciency, and long-term survival.
The study employed a structured questionnaire administered to 100 SME owners, managers, and accounting personnel selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyze the data and determine the relationship between accounting expertise, auditing procedures, and SME sustainability.
Findings revealed that accounting expertise has a significant positive ef ect on SME financial performance (p < 0.05), while auditing procedures significantly enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainability (p < 0.05). Despite these benefits, many SMEs still face challenges such as inadequate expertise, high cost of professional services, poor record- keeping culture, and weak regulatory enforcement. The study recommends regular training for SME operators, promotion of af ordable auditing services, increased awareness of accounting standards, and the adoption of digital accounting systems to support transparency and longterm business growth

This study examines the determinants of tax compliance among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The research investigated the influence of six key factors—tax knowledge and awareness, taxpayer attitude and perception, multiple tax
rates, government transparency and accountability, enforcement and penalties, and complexity of the tax accounting system—on tax compliance behavior. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data collected from 142 SMEs were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression techniques through E-Views 14.0.
The regression results revealed that taxpayer attitude and perception had a negative and significant effect on compliance, implying that negative perceptions about the tax system reduce taxpayers’ willingness to comply. Conversely, multiple tax rates and government transparency showed positive and significant effects, indicating that simplified rate structures and transparent governance enhance compliance. Tax knowledge, enforcement, and system complexity were not statistically significant, suggesting that knowledge and penalties alone may not guarantee compliance without trust and institutional integrity. The model was statistically significant (F-statistic = 5.45, p < 0.01) with an adjusted R² of 0.16, confirming a moderate explanatory power. Diagnostic tests showed no autocorrelation or heteroskedasticity, ensuring model reliability.
The study concludes that tax compliance among SMEs in Nigeria is primarily driven by institutional and perceptual factors rather than enforcement. It recommends improving government transparency, simplifying tax structures, and promoting positive taxpayer attitudes to enhance voluntary compliance

The main aim of the study is to explore the impact of cash flow management on insurance firm profitability. Specifically, the study aims to examine the relationship between operating activities and insurance firm profitability, examine the relationship
between investing activities and insurance firm profitability, and to examine the relationship between financing activities and insurance firm profitability, using panel data covering the period 2013–2022. In this study, cash flow from operating activities, cash flow from investing activities, and cash flow from financing activities are employed as the main independent variables, while profitability is measured using return on assets. To achieve the objectives of the study, pooled Ordinary Least Squares regression was initially estimated, followed by diagnostic tests for multicollinearity and heteroscedasticity. Preliminary analyses, including descriptive statistics, normality tests, and Spearman rank correlation analysis, were also conducted to understand the distributional properties and associations among the variables. Given the presence of heteroscedasticity, robust regression techniques were employed to ensure reliable statistical inference. The empirical findings with respect to each specific objective of the study are summarized as follows. Cash flow from operating activities [coef. = 13.818 (0.000)] has a positive and statistically significant effect on the return on assets of the selected insurance firms in Nigeria during the period under study. This indicates that insurance firms with stronger operating cash inflows tend to record higher profitability. Cash flow from financing activities [coef. = –7.187 (0.048)] has a negative and statistically significant effect on the return on assets of the selected insurance firms in Nigeria during the period under study. This finding suggests that increased reliance on financing activities is associated with
lower profitability among the sampled insurance firms. Cash flow from investing activities [coef. = –7.117 (0.000)] has a negative and statistically significant effect on the return on assets of the selected insurance firms in Nigeria during the period under
study. This implies that higher investment-related cash outflows are associated with reduced profitability in the short run. The study recommend that insurance firms should strengthen the management of cash flow from operating activities by improving underwriting discipline, premium collection processes, and claims settlement efficiency. Corporate managers and directors are responsible for implementing robust internal controls and operational monitoring systems, which will enhance operating cash inflows and support sustained profitability. This will also improve investor confidence and enhance firm valuation