FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

The research study is to examine the influence of corporate governance on firm performance of First Bank Nigeria PLC. It made use of board committee, audit committee, board size and corporate governance disclosure index as corporate governance predictive variables. The research design adopted is the longitudinal survey research design. The model parameters were estimated using Ordinary Least Squares with time series data for the period 2006 to 2016 for First Bank Nigeria PLC. The stationarity, stability, co-integration and causal relationship between the explanatory variables and the dependent variable in the model were performed. The study employed the application software E-View 7.0. The results of ADF and PP roots tests indicate that the series are unit roots free. The co integration of the variables using Residual Unit Roots test, which is appropriate in this study, indicates long run relationships among the series. The use of Recursive Residual Technique shows that the variables are stable. The model has an explanatory power of 78 percent specifically adjusted for the degrees of freedom with regard to the explanatory variables. The DW statistics value of 1.82 indicates the absence of serial correlation. The F- probability value of 0.0000 reports that there is a simultaneous linear relationship between the dependent variable and all the explanatory variables combined. This suggests that the joint effects of all the included variables in the model are significant in explaining firm performance of the First Bank Nigeria PLC. The study revealed that the explanatory variables significantly impact on firm performance of First Bank Nigeria PLC. In view of the research findings planning the improvement in board committee, audit committee, board size and corporate governance disclosure index will help to increase firm performance of organizations among others.

This study investigates the impact of social media advertising on consumer purchasing decisions among young adults at the University of Benin. It explores key factors such as engagement levels, advertisement effectiveness, brand trust, and the influence of different social media platforms on buying behavior. Using a quantitative approach, data was collected from university students and analyzed through regression analysis to determine the relationship between social media advertising and purchasing decisions. Findings reveal that high engagement, clear and creative advertisements, and strong brand trust significantly influence students’ buying choices. The study highlights the growing importance of social media as a marketing tool and provides valuable insights for marketers aiming to target young consumers effectively. Recommendations for future research and marketing strategies are also discussed.

This study investigates the role of entrepreneurship education on women's participation in entrepreneurial activities in Edo State, Nigeria. Amid rising unemployment and economic challenges, entrepreneurship has emerged as a viable path to economic empowerment, particularly for women. Despite the integration of entrepreneurship education into Nigeria’s educational system, women’s participation in business remains limited due to socio-cultural,
financial, and structural barriers. This research examines how different forms of entrepreneurship education—formal education, vocational training, business workshops, and mentorship programs—affect women’s entrepreneurial engagement. The study employed a descriptive survey design; with a sample of 400 women entrepreneurs selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Findings reveal that entrepreneurship education significantly influences women's participation in entrepreneurship, accounting for 53.9% of the variation in their engagement. Formal education and mentorship programs were found to be the most impactful, followed by vocational training and business workshops. However, challenges such as limited access to capital, cultural and gender norms, lack of mentorship, and high market competition continue to hinder women’s full entrepreneurial participation. The study recommends the expansion of gender-sensitive entrepreneurship education, improved access to funding, stronger mentorship networks, and policy reforms to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment for women.

This study examined the effect of stress antecedents (workload, budget attainability, budget emphasis, role conflict, and leadership behaviour) on audit quality among auditors in Nigeria. A quantitative survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 120 auditors across audit firms in Nigeria using a structured questionnaire. The study employed descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and mean to summarize respondents’ demographic characteristics and perceptions of the study variables. The study finds that auditors experience significant stress from heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and simultaneous client engagements. Budget attainability and leadership behaviour showed positive and significant effects on audit quality, indicating that realistic budgets and supportive leadership enhance audit performance. Conversely, workload, budget emphasis, and role conflict exhibited significant negative effects on audit quality. The regression model showed that the combined stress antecedents explained 50.7% of the variance in audit quality. The study recommends improved workload distribution, realistic budgeting, moderated emphasis on time budgets, reduced role conflict, and strengthened leadership practices.

This study investigated the effect of leadership styles on business sustainability among SMEs in Benin City, Edo State. It aimed to evaluate the impact of transformational, transactional, and participative leadership styles on the long-term viability and operational stability of these enterprises. The research adopted a descriptive survey design, using structured questionnaires administered to 147 employees across four selected SMEs within the Ugbowo axis. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression techniques to test relationships and hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The fiindings revealed that transformational leadership significantly enhanced business sustainability by promoting vision, motivation, and innovation, thus contributing to long term growth and adaptability in SMEs. Transactional leadership played an important role in ensuring short-term stability and effective operational control but showed limited influence on sustained business growth. Participative leadership positively affected goal commitment and team involvement, though its impact was more effective when combined with transformational leadership practices. Based on these results, it was recommended that SMEs should prioritize developing transformational leadership competencies to inspire and motivate their workforce and drive innovation crucial for sustained success. Additionally, transactional leadership techniques should be integrated to maintain operational consistency and manage daily business challenges efficiently. Furthermore, fostering participative leadership by encouraging inclusive decision-making and employee engagement was advised to enhance collective responsibility and strengthen overall business sustainability.