FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

This study examined the influence of audit characteristics on the financial reporting quality of deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange. The main objective was to assess the effects of audit firm tenure, audit firm size, and non-audit services on the credibility and transparency of financial reports. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and utilized secondary data collected from annual reports of twelve listed banks covering the period 2016 to 2023. The data were analysed using panel regression analysis with robust standard errors to account for heteroskedasticity. The study finds that audit firm tenure has no significant impact on financial reporting quality, indicating that the duration of auditor-client relationships does not independently determine reporting outcomes in the Nigerian banking sector. However, audit firm size showed a significant positive relationship with financial reporting quality, suggesting that larger audit firms contribute to higher transparency and reliability due to their extensive expertise and stronger regulatory oversight. Additionally, non-audit services exhibited a significant positive effect on financial reporting quality, implying that when properly managed, these services can enhance auditors’ operational understanding and improve audit effectiveness rather than compromise independence. The study concludes that audit firm size and non-audit services are critical determinants of financial reporting quality among Nigerian deposit money banks, while audit firm tenure plays a limited role. The study recommends that regulators encourage the use of reputable large audit firms and implement guidelines to manage non-audit services effectively to strengthen overall audit quality and financial transparency in the sector

Employee engagement and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) have emerged as central constructs in organizational psychology and human resource management. Both phenomena significantly influence employee motivation, performance, and organizational effectiveness. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review exploring the conceptual foundations, dimensions, determinants, and interrelationship between employee engagement and OCB, with a particular focus on public-sector employees at the local government level. Drawing on foundational and contemporary scholarship, the review underscores that employee engagement—defined as a positive, fulfilling, work-related psychological state encompassing vigor, dedication, and absorption—serves as a critical antecedent to discretionary behaviours that characterize OCB. The paper further discusses mediating factors such as organizational support and moderating variables like job satisfaction, highlighting their influence on the engagement– OCB nexus. Finally, a conceptual framework is proposed to guide future empirical studies. Keywords: Employee engagement, organizational citizenship behaviour, organizational support, job satisfaction, public sector, Nigeria

This study examines the influence of gender culture and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria with the objective of ascertaining the influence of gender culture on entrepreneurship development, the differences between male and female enetrepreneurship development, the extent to which gender equality enhances sustainable development in Nigerian entrepreneurship, Examine the effects of gender bias and culture on the growth of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. This study population was drawn from the Ovia North East Local Government Area in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The study involved 100 participants selected through purposive random sampling from various small and medium enterprises. Data were gathered using questionnaires administered to the sampled respondents. The collected data
were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency tables and percentages. The relationship between one independent variable and the dependent variable was tested using the chi-square statistical technique. The findings highlighted that gender, culture, and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria reflect the complex interplay of social, cultural, and economic factors influencing entrepreneurial opportunities and outcomes, particularly for women. Despite facing significant challenges such as gender disparities, cultural norms, and structural barriers, there are promising prospects for fostering gender-inclusive entrepreneurship in the country. Addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities requires a comprehensive approach that incorporates policy interventions, social support mechanisms, education and training initiatives, and technology-driven solutions. Gender-sensitive policies that enhance women's access to finance, education, and support networks are crucial for creating a level playing field and promoting women's entrepreneurial success

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 Ministered 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

This study examines the impact of fintech innovation on financial development in Nigeria, with a focus on the mediating role of green finance. Fintech innovations, such as digital payments, mobile banking, and peer-to-peer lending, have revolutionized the financial sector, enhancing financial inclusion and market efficiency. Meanwhile, green finance, a relatively emerging concept in Nigeria, seeks to channel financial resources toward environmentally sustainable projects. This study aims to assess the interplay between these variables and their collective influence on the country's financial ecosystem. Using a structured questionnaire distributed to 88 respondents, data was collected from fintech operators, financial institution employees, and stakeholders in green finance. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, regression models, and mediation analysis to evaluate the relationships among fintech innovation, financial development, and green finance. The findings reveal that fintech innovation significantly contributes to financial development in Nigeria, primarily by improving access to financial services and reducing transaction costs. Green finance, while still in its nascent stage, positively influences financial development by promoting sustainable investments. Additionally, the study confirms that green finance partially mediates the relationship between fintech innovation and financial development, amplifying the impact of fintech on sustainability-oriented financial initiatives. However, challenges such as limited data availability, regulatory gaps, and low public awareness of green finance hinder its full potential. The study concludes by recommending stronger regulatory frameworks, increased public education on green finance, and greater collaboration between fintech companies and policymakers to foster sustainable financial growth in Nigeria.

Advertising plays a crucial role in shaping consumer behavior, particularly in the highly competitive soft drink industry. This study examines the impact of advertising on consumer buying behavior, focusing on how media types, message content, and engagement tactics influence purchasing decisions. The research explored key advertising elements such as visual appeal, tone, and brand consistency, assessing their effects on consumer perceptions and loyalty. Given the increasing reliance on digital marketing, the study also evaluated the effectiveness of various advertising platforms, including social media, television, and print media. The research adopted a quantitative approach, utilizing surveys distributed to consumers in Benin City to analyze their responses to different advertising strategies. The study seeks to answer critical questions regarding the influence of advertising message content, visual elements, and media channels on consumer behavior. Hypotheses are formulated to test the significance of these factors in shaping purchasing decisions. Findings from this study provides valuable insights for marketers in the soft drink industry, helping them refine advertising strategies to enhance consumer engagement and brand loyalty. The study also contributes to academic literature by bridging the gap in research on the direct relationship between advertising and purchasing behavior, particularly in the Nigerian market. While the study acknowledges limitations such as self-reported biases and regional focus, its results will offer practical recommendations for advertisers seeking to optimize their campaigns in an evolving media landscape.

This study examines the impact of digital payment technologies on financial inclusion in Nigeria, focusing on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions, Point-of-Sale(POS) transactions, Web Pay transactions, and mobile payments. Despite significant advancements in digital payment infrastructure, approximately 40%of adult Nigerians remain financially excluded, revealing persistent challenges inachieving universal access to financial services. The research addresses this gap by empirically investigating how different digital payment channels contribute to broadening financial participation in the formal economy. The study adopts an Ex-Post-Factoresearch design, utilizing quarterly time series data spanning from2009Q1to2023Q4,yielding 60 observations. Secondary data were obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System. Financial inclusion was operationalized as total savings as a ratio of GDP, while independent variables captured transaction volumes across the four digital payment channels. The analytical framework employed Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root tests, Johansenco integration analysis, and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to examine both short-run dynamics and long-run equilibrium relationships. Results indicate that only mobile payment transaction volume demonstrates a statistically significant positive effect on financial inclusioninNigeria.ATM, POS, and Web Pay transaction volumes show no significant impact, attributed to infrastructure constraints, urban concentration of services, digital literacy gaps, and limited accessibility in rural areas. The superior performance of mobile payments stems from widespread mobile phone penetration, USSD technology compatibility with basic phones, minimal entry barriers, and distributed agent networks reaching underserved populations. The study concludes that mobile payments represent the most effective digital channel for advancing financial inclusion inNigeria.Recommendations emphasize prioritizing mobile payment infrastructure development,addressing electricity and telecommunications constraints, enhancing financial and digital literacy programs, reforming regulatory frameworks, including tiered KYC requirements, expanding agent networks into rural areas, and leveraging mobile platforms for government-to-person payments. Policymakers should adopt comprehensive strategies integrating supportive ecosystems that enable access, build capability, and foster trust to maximize mobile payments' potential in achieving sustainable financial inclusion. Keywords: Digital Payment Technologies, Financial Inclusion, Mobile Payments

This study examined the impact of ethical finance on the growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Edo State, Nigeria focusing on key ethical finance dimensions such as transparency in loan terms, non-interest payment, fair interest rates, and non-discriminatory access to finance. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and collected primary data from 385 SME owners in Benin City, Edo State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression techniques. The findings revealed that transparency in loan terms, non-interest payment, fair interest rates, and non-discriminatory access to finance each have a significant positive effect on SME growth. The results further indicated that SMEs that engage with financial institutions operating under ethical principles experience
greater access to funding, improved business performance, and sustainable expansion. The study concludes that ethical finance serves as a vital catalyst for inclusive economic development by fostering trust, fairness, and social responsibility in financial practices. It recommends that financial institutions adopt transparent lending policies, ensure fair pricing of credit, and eliminate discriminatory barriers to enhance SME growth and national economic progress.

The study examines how political costs of firms in Nigeria influences tax planning. The study concludes political cost and institutional ownership has a negative significant effect on tax planning of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. However, profitability and managerial ownership has no insignificant effect on tax planning of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria during the period under review. Finally, the study conclude that leverage has a positive insignificant effect on tax planning of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria

This study investigates the impact of forensic accounting practices on corporate governance in Nigerian manufacturing companies. Specifically, it examines how fraud detection, forensic data analytics, internal control reviews, and litigation support influence transparency, accountability, and board oversight. A survey research design was adopted, and data was collected from 275 respondents, including auditors, forensic accountants, finance managers, and other professionals. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings reveal that fraud detection significantly enhances financial reporting integrity and
discourages financial misconduct, while forensic data analytics improves decision-making speed, risk assessment, and transparency. Reviewing internal controls was identified as the most influential factor, strengthening accountability and reducing opportunities for fraud. Additionally, forensic accounting support for litigation and investigations was found to improve compliance enforcement and ethical governance practices. Regression results confirmed that forensic accounting practices collectively have a significant positive effect on corporate governance (R = 0.488, R² = 0.238, p < 0.05).
The study concludes that forensic accounting is a critical mechanism for enhancing corporate governance by promoting transparency, accountability, and stakeholder confidence. It recommends that organizations institutionalize forensic auditing, adopt advanced data analytics tools, strengthen internal control reviews, and engage forensic experts in litigation and compliance processes.