FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

This study examined the effect of Tax Policy on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows
in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the moderating role of tax concessions. Using annual time-series data spanning 1994-2024, the study employed a short-run
Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework to analyse the dynamic relationships
between major tax policy instruments, tax concessions, and foreign direct investment. The
analysis focused on Company Income Tax (Cit), Customs and Excise Duties (Ced), Petroleum
Profit Tax (Ppt), Value Added Tax (Vat), and Tax Concessions (TAXC), while controlling for
exchange rate movements (EXR) and corruption rating (COR).The results of the Augmented
Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root tests showed that the variables attained stationarity at different
levels, while the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds tests indicated the absence of
cointegration and a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables, thereby justifying
reliance on short-run dynamic estimation. The empirical findings from the baseline model revealed that CIT, CED, PPT, VAT, and
TAXC do not exert statistically significant direct short-run effects on foreign direct investment
inflows in Nigeria. However, the results of the moderated model indicate that TAXC
significantly moderate the relationships between CIT and FDI, as well as between VAT and FDI. These findings indicate that tax concessions function more effectively as complementary fiscal
instruments that condition the impact of selected taxes rather than as standalone investment
incentives. In contrast, tax concessions were found not to significantly moderate the effects of
CED or PPT on FDI.

This study explored the role of advertisement media on consumer buying behavior in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. With a focus on how different advertising media and strategies influence consumer decisions, a total of 385 questionnaires were retrieved from respondents. The study employed a quantitative research design, utilizing descriptive statistics, regression analysis, independent sample t-tests, and ANOVA for data analysis. The findings revealed that different forms of advertising media (TV, radio, print, and social media) do not significantly influence consumer buying behavior, and no single advertising medium was found to be more effective than others. However, different advertising strategies and techniques exhibited significant variations in effectiveness, and advertisement media significantly impacted psychological factors but not social factors. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, gender, income, and education were found to significantly influence consumer responses to advertisements. Based on these findings, the study recommended an integrated marketing communication approach, tailored advertising strategies based on demographic segmentation, and a focus on leveraging psychological triggers in advertising campaigns. It also emphasized the need for ongoing market research to adapt to changing consumer preferences.

This study investigates the relationship between auditor independence and financial reporting quality (FRQ) among deposit money banks (DMBs) listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). It focuses on three key auditor attributes: audit firm tenure, audit firm size, and the provision of non-audit services, and examines how they influence the credibility of financial disclosures in Nigeria’s banking sector. An ex post facto research design was adopted, using panel data extracted from the annual reports of all twelve listed DMBs for the period 2017 to 2024. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were applied, while multiple regression was conducted to assess the combined and individual effects of the selected auditor characteristics on FRQ, after diagnostic tests for normality, multicollinearity, and heteroskedasticity. The findings reveal that audit firm size has a positive and significant effect on FRQ, demonstrating that large and well-resourced audit firms contribute to more transparent and reliable financial statements. Non-audit services also show a strong positive and significant relationship with FRQ, suggesting that when properly regulated, such services enhance auditors’ understanding of clients’ operations and strengthen audit effectiveness. Conversely, audit firm tenure was not statistically significant, indicating that the length of the auditor–client relationship does not meaningfully affect reporting quality under Nigeria’s current regulatory framework. These results support Agency Theory by showing how independent and capable auditors reduce information asymmetry, and Signalling Theory by highlighting how high-quality audits boost market credibility. The study concludes that technical capacity, independence safeguards, and informed regulation of non-audit services are more critical to financial reporting credibility than mandatory rotation alone. It recommends that regulators such as the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) enforce independence rules, encourage the engagement of technically robust audit firms, maintain existing tenure regulations while ensuring compliance, and regulate non-audit services through clear disclosure and fee caps. These measures can enhance audit quality, improve investor confidence, and strengthen the stability of Nigeria’s banking system.

The recent challenges in financial accounting report requires the accounting profession to uphold transparency in the preparation of financial statements for users of such financial information. One of these challenges includes the application of unethical accounting in the presentation of financial report by management of an organization. Therefore, it is the responsibility of accountants in producing a standard, accurate, concise, and timely financial report applying accounting ethics in order to prevent frauds and misleading to the users of such information. The study’s main objective was to examine the role of ethics on the quality of financial report in commercial banks while the specific objective was to evaluate how integrity, objectivity, professional competence, confidentiality and professional behaviour relates with the quality of financial reports of commercial banks in Nigeria. The research design employed in this study was cross sectional survey. Target population received copies of questionnaire and 102 responses were subsequently collected. The findings highlight the significant role of ethical principles particularly integrity, objectivity, and professional competence in enhancing financial reporting quality. This finding underscores the crucial role of integrity in certifying correct and reliable financial report, aligning with prior studies that highlight integrity as a cornerstone of ethical financial management. The relationship between integrity and the quality of financial reports is significant. Objectivity and professional competence showed significant relationship with financial reporting quality. While confidentiality and professional behaviour showed negative associations with financial reporting quality, their effects were not statistically relevant. This indicates that although confidentiality is vital for protecting sensitive financial information, excessive secrecy may hinder transparency and accountability, ultimately affecting financial reporting quality. In light of the results, the study recommends the necessity for organisations to strengthen ethical governance and ensure that financial professionals adhere to good ethical principles to improve credibility of financial reporting.

This study investigated skill acquisition and job creation among women in Edo State. The specific objectives were to examine the relationship between technical skills, creative skills, vocational skills and entrepreneurial skills with job creation among women in Edo State. It was a field survey and a total of five hundred and sixteen (516) women constituted the population size and the same 516 as the sample size for the purpose robust results and generalisation. The main research instrument employed was questionnaire administration and data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and least square regression method. The study found that technical skills, creative skills, vocational skills and entrepreneurial skills all have significant positive relationship at p-value of 1%, 1%, 2%, and 3% respectively with job creation among women in Edo state. The study therefore recommended that government should provide the enabling environment and financial assistance to entrepreneurs especially to women with different creative, technical and entrepreneurial skills in order to promote job creation.

This study investigated the relationship between board attributes and financial reporting quality among listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The board attributes examined include board independence, board gender diversity, board meeting frequency, board size, and multiple committee membership. Discretionary accruals were employed as proxy for financial reporting quality, while firm-specific characteristics such as profitability, firm size, and audit fees were included as control variables. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design. The sample consists of a census of all twenty (20) consumer goods companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) over a 12-year period (2013–2024), resulting in a final sample of 232 unbalanced firm-year observations. The study adopted a fixed effect panel regression technique, with model selection justified using the Hausman specification test. The empirical results revealed that board independence, board gender diversity, and board meeting frequency have insignificant relationship with financial reporting quality. Bboard size exhibits a positive and significant relationship with discretionary accruals, suggesting that larger boards are associated with lower financial reporting quality. Multiple committee membership is found to have a negative and significant relationship with discretionary accruals, indicating that overlapping committee membership enhances financial reporting quality. Among the control variables, profitability and firm size are negatively and significantly related to discretionary accruals, while audit fees show a positive and significant relationship. The study suggests that board members serve on more than one committee to ensure effective oversight function, but caution should be exercised to avoid overwhelming a board member with work load.

This study examined the influence of fair value accounting on firm value among thirteen deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) over the period 2013–2023. The study specifically investigated the effects of institutional ownership, investor reaction, leverage, firm size, compliance, and audit fees on firm value. Secondary data were collected from the audited annual reports of the sampled banks and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel least squares regression in EViews 13. The descriptive analysis revealed moderate firm value, high institutional ownership, large firm size, and significant investment in audit fees, while the correlation analysis showed weak relationships among the study variables, indicating no multicollinearity concerns. Regression results indicated that none of the independent variables had a statistically significant impact on firm value, with the model explaining only 2% of the variation in firm value (R² = 0.0204). The findings suggest that fair value accounting, as proxied by the selected measures, does not significantly influence the valuation of Nigerian banks. It is concluded that other factors, including external market conditions and unobserved firm-specific characteristics, may play a more substantial role in determining firm value. The study recommends that bank management, investors, and regulators consider broader financial, operational, and market factors in evaluating firm performance and valuation.

This study examines the effect of forensic data analytics on audit quality in the Nigerian banking sector. It investigates the relationship between data collection methods, data cleaning, data mining and detection techniques, and predictive analytics, and their collective impact on audit quality. The study was motivated by the growing complexity of financial transactions and the need for auditors to employ advanced technological tools to enhance accuracy, fraud detection, and transparency in financial reporting. An ex post facto and survey research design was adopted. Data were obtained from 384 respondents across selected deposit money banks in Edo State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The results revealed that all components of forensic data analytics—data collection methods, data cleaning, data mining and detection techniques, and predictive analytics—had significant and positive effects on audit quality. The regression model showed that these variables collectively explained 76.1% of the variation in audit quality, indicating a strong relationship between forensic data analytics and improved audit performance. The study concludes that forensic data analytics significantly enhances audit quality by improving fraud detection, predictive risk assessment, and the reliability of financial reporting. It recommends that banks integrate forensic data analytics tools into their audit systems, invest in robust data infrastructure, and provide continuous training for auditors to build capacity in analytics-driven auditing. The study contributes to knowledge by empirically validating the influence of forensic data analytics on audit quality within the context of Nigerian banks and extending Institutional Theory by demonstrating how regulatory pressures and technological advancements drive the adoption of forensic analytics in auditing.

This study examined the role of big data analytics in enhancing underwriting efficiency and risk assessment accuracy in the Nigerian insurance industry. Motivated by the growing relevance of data-driven decision-making in global financial services, the study sought to evaluate the extent of adoption, the benefits and challenges, and the potential of big data analytics in improving industry performance. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected through structured questionnaires administered to underwriters, risk managers, and data analysts across selected insurance companies. Out of 200 distributed questionnaires, 176 were duly completed and returned, representing a response rate of 88 percent. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic characteristics and summarize responses, while regression analysis was applied to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that adoption of big data analytics is gradually increasing in the Nigerian insurance industry, with companies investing in tools and staff training, although integration into daily operations remains moderate. Respondents indicated that big data analytics has significantly improved underwriting efficiency by reducing processing time, minimizing errors, and enhancing the accuracy of customer profiling, thereby contributing to greater customer satisfaction. The study also identified key benefits, including cost savings, improved competitiveness, and better decision-making. However, challenges such as poor data quality, shortage of skilled personnel, and infrastructural limitations continue to hinderq its full implementation. Regression results further confirmed that big data analytics has a positive and statistically significant effect on underwriting efficiency and risk assessment accuracy, explaining 48 percent of the variation in performance. The study concludes that big data analytics is a critical driver of performance in the Nigerian insurance industry and has the potential to transform underwriting and risk management practices. It recommends increased investment in technology, capacity building, stronger data governance frameworks, regulatory support, and industry-wide standards to maximize its impact. While the findings provide useful insights, the study is limited by its focus on selected firms and its cross-sectional design. Future research is encouraged to adopt longitudinal and comparative approaches across different markets.

This study examined total quality management and corporate sustainability practices in the organization in Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the relationship between continuous organizational improvement, consumer focus and quality leadership and corporate sustainability practices in the organization in Edo State, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for this research study. The population of the study encompassed a total of 452 employees working in the organisation. A total of 400 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, retrieved and found usable. A convenience sampling procedure was used in administering the copies of the questionnaire to sample respondents who are employees working in the organisation in Benin City, Edo State. The data collected through questionnaire administration was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses and estimate the research model using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. The study found that there is a significant positive relationship continuous organizational improvement, consumer focus and quality leadership and corporate sustainability practices in the organization in Edo State, Nigeria. The study recommends that the organisation needs to consciously integrate sustainability goals within their continuous improvement strategies, place a strong emphasis on sustainability measures that directly xaddress consumer needs and expectations and focus on cultivating and empowering leaders with a strong commitment to sustainability