FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

This study investigates the relationship between corporate board diversity and the financial performance of quoted oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Conducted within the context of governance reforms and performance challenges in the sector, the research examines how national, ethnic, age, and gender diversity influence Earnings Per Share (EPS), which was adopted as the measure of financial performance. An ex-post facto research design was employed, using panel data extracted from the annual reports of twelve oil and gas companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group between 2014 and 2023. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression were applied to evaluate the hypothesized relationships. The findings reveal that ethnic and age diversity exert significant positive effects on EPS, while national and gender diversity show statistically insignificant influences. The results indicate that board heterogeneity in certain dimensions enhances shareholder value, though some forms of diversity remain underutilized in Nigeria’s corporate governance framework. The study concludes that meaningful representation across diversity dimensions can strengthen decision- making and improve financial outcomes, especially in a highly regulated and capital-intensive industry. The study recommends that regulators and policymakers enforce inclusive governance policies that encourage balanced board representation, while companies should adopt strategic diversity practices that integrate ethnicity, age, gender, and nationality to enhance performance and competitiveness.

This study investigates the impact of board characteristics- board size, board gender diversity, board independence, and board compensation- on firm financial performance among non-financial and non-oil and gas firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). Using panel data from 78 firms over the period 2020 to 2024, the study employs descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel regression techniques to analyze these relationships. The findings reveal that board gender diversity positively and significantly influences firm financial performance, while board size negatively affects performance. Net profit showed inconsistent effects, and board independence and compensation were not statistically significant predictors. The study recommends promoting gender diversity and optimizing board size to enhance firm performance. These results contribute to understanding corporate governance’s role in improving financial outcomes in the Nigerian business environment and provide guidance for regulators, firms, and stakeholders aiming to strengthen board effectiveness

This study examined the worshippers’ satisfaction, spiritual support and switching intention among Christian students in University of Benin, Benin City. The focus of the study was to examine the impact of Worshippers satisfaction on the switching behaviour of Christian students and also to examine the factors (pastor's message, fellowship environment, special programmes, and spiritual support) that motivate worshippers to worship in a particular fellowship. The study used the survey method by administering copies of structured questionnaire to185undergraduate Christian students of University of Benin, Benin City. The data for the study were analyzed using both descriptive statistics such as simple percentages and mean, while inferential statistics (linear regression) was used with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The research revealed that the rate of worshippers´ switching intention is low in the University of Benin (UNIBEN). This is shown by the switching intention rate of 26.49%; Worshippers consider the following factors (in a descending order): Pulpit Ministry, Spiritual support, Special Programmes, Music Ministry and Fellowship environment as the reasons for switching intention. Fellowship environment is a statistically significant determinant of worshippers´ switching intention in the University of Benin, factors such as Pulpit ministry, special programmes, music ministry and spiritual support are not significant factors that influence worshippers´ switching intention in the University of Benin (UNIBEN); and Demographic variables such as gender, age, level and unit membership, do not significantly influence worshippers´ switching intention.

This study investigates the impact of Social Media Marketing (SMM) on the growth of thrift vendors in Ovia North East, Edo State. The primary objective was to examine how SMM influences business promotion, customer perception, customer engagement, and sales growth among thrift vendors. A survey design was adopted, targeting thrift vendors who actively use WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. One hundred (100) questionnaires were distributed using purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings reveal that SMM significantly enhances business visibility (Mean=4.85) and customer reach. Customers hold positive perceptions of online thrift vendors (Mean=3.67), which regression analysis confirmed significantly affects business growth (p = .000). SMM strategies strongly influence customer engagement and sales growth (Grand Mean=4.46). However, vendors face challenges including poor internet access (Mean=4.48), high advertising costs (Mean=4.18), and limited digital marketing skills (Mean=3.70). The study concludes that Social Media Marketing is essential for thrift vendor growth in Ovia North East. It is recommended that government and network providers improve internet accessibility, while organizations should provide subsidized digital skills training for informal sector operators

This study examined the adoption and implication of digitalization on accounting practices in Nigeria. This study made use of a casual comparative research design, this design was employed to aid the investigation and survey analysis of this study variables which are ex post facto in comparing the variables. The data analysis involved the use of frequency, percentage, descriptive statistics, and simple linear regression to examine the data and assess the hypotheses. The significance level considered was set at 5%. Additionally, Cronbach's Alpha statistics were applied to evaluate the data's reliability for this research. Findings from the study revealed that audit purchase (AP) was found to produce an increase output result with digitalization having a positive impact of 0.023 (23%) and 0.000 P-value proving it to be statistically significant at 0.005 (95%), tax services performance was found to have an increasement of 17.1% when digitalization is adopted showing that digitalization has a significant impact at 0.000 confidence interval when measuring at 5%, digitalization was also found to help in promoting efficiency in financial advisory performance with the test showing an improved (26.6%) and 0.000 P-value proving it to have a significant effect at 5% confidence level, and efficiency, accountability and compliance in accounting practices which is one of the fundamental aims of accounting profession was found to improve with digitalization with 89.4% percent and 0.000 P-value. This shown a positive and significant impact of digitalization on this variable. The study recommended that since digitalization has a significant impact on audit purchase, digitalization should be given more merit and emphasis by organization to promote more of electronical sales and purchase records, sales and purchase software and template should be put in place by accounting bodies to promote use of digital keeping of invoices, receipt and most especially digital stock valuation to help improve automatic calculating audit purchases tool, and tax service performance which in past 10 years have been a supportive economy driven tools for government revenue creation. There has been different introduction of tools by government in improving tax administrative service performance and promoting tax payer’s compliance. Since the finding shows that digitalization has a positive impact on improving tax services performance government should tend to input more digital tools into their tax tools in promoting the administrative performance.

This study examined the effect of Industrial conflict management strategies on employee performance in healthcare centers in Benin City. In specific terms, the study determined the relationship among accommodating, collaborating, compromising, competing, as avoiding as a conflict management strategy affect the employee performance in the health care centres in Benin City. A survey research design was employed, and 362 employees from the University of Benin Teaching Hosptail (UBTH) participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents, which was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that accommodating and collaborating conflict management strategies have a positive and significant relationship with employee performance, while avoidance has a significant negative relationship. Compromising and competing strategies did not exhibit a statistically significant relationship with employee performance. The study highlights the importance of fostering understanding, flexibility, and teamwork to enhance the overall effectiveness of healthcare professionals. It also underscores the detrimental effects of conflict avoidance in healthcare settings, emphasizing the need for interventions that encourage open communication and constructive problem-solving. To address these findings, the study recommends that healthcare centers in Benin City prioritize training programs that enhance accommodative and collaborative conflict management skills among their staff. Additionally, communication training programs should be implemented to encourage open and constructive dialogue, addressing the negative impact of conflict avoidance.

This study examined the determinants of income inequality in Nigeria for the period 1981 to 2023. For this purpose, four determinants of income inequality, namely government expenditure, access to credit, inflation rate and financial development were considered in this study using the ARDL bound testing procedure. The results showed that the four variables (government expenditure, access to credit, inflation rate and financial development) exert insignificant negative effect on income inequality in Nigeria in the short-run. We conclude that the selected variables are not key factors that influence income inequality in Nigeria within the studied period. To achieve more equitable distribution of income, the study recommends that implementation of policies that deepen the financial system and increase spending by .policy makers should focus on expenditure that affects the low income earners in order to reduce income inequality in Nigeria. Also, relaxing borrowing constraints is advocated so that the people with less income and small firms can make use of private credit, which helps them to increase their earning opportunities and creating additional employment for the local community. Furthermore, government should embark on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies to boost aggregate output as a measure to curb inflation and also implement policies that will deepen the financial system in Nigeria in order to improve income distribution and thus reduces inequality.

This study examined the relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock market returns in Nigeria. Using a quantitative approach, the research analyzed how key economic indicators such as interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, GDP growth, and unemployment rates influenced the performance of the Nigerian stock market over the period from 1999 to 2024. The study employed secondary data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Exchange Group, utilizing econometric models, particularly the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression, to establish relationships between the variables. The findings revealed significant impacts of interest rates, inflation, and exchange rates on stock market returns, while GDP growth and unemployment rates exhibited a moderate correlation. The study highlighted the complex interplay of these macroeconomic variables and the vulnerability of the stock market to economic shocks. The results provided valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and researchers, suggesting that effective management of these macroeconomic factors was crucial for stabilizing the Nigerian stock market and fostering sustainable economic growth. Recommendations included monetary policy adjustments, fiscal reforms, and targeted strategies to address inflation and unemployment, which could enhance investor confidence and improve stock market performance.

This study examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) usage on innovative thinking among university students in Nigeria, with a focus on students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to students selected via simple random sampling. The instrument
captured students’ frequency and purpose of AI use, as well as perceptions of its influence on creative and innovative thinking. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with SPSS. The findings reveal that AI tools are widely and regularly used by students for academic and creative activities, serving as guides for idea generation, problem
solving, and conceptual clarification. Results further indicate that AI usage has a positive and significant influence on innovative thinking, while also raising concerns about overreliance and ethical considerations. Overall, the study concludes that AI plays a supportive role in enhancing students’ innovative capacities when used responsibly, and it recommends the promotion of balanced AI literacy in higher education to sustain creativity and independent thinking

The broad objective of this study was to examine the relationship between green disclosure and firm performance in the Nigerian Exchange Group The method used in the research is the ordinary least square and the content analysis of the annual reports of individual firms. In this case, the researchers analyzed the annual reports of the selected firms to identify the type and extent of green information that was disclosed. The study found that green disclosures (ENVD) have a statistically significant positive impact on financial performance (ROA). This is evidenced by the statistically significant coefficient of ENVD in the regression model (-0.0019, p-value = 0.0749). Additionally, the correlation matrix revealed a positive but weak correlation between ENVD and firm size (FSIZE), suggesting that larger firms tend to disclose more green information. It is therefore recommended that firms should disclose more green information to have better financial performance.