IMPACT

This study investigated the impact of digital transformation on business performance among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research focused on four dimensions of digital transformation: operational transformation, customer experience transformation, organisational culture and workforce transformation, and product and service innovation. A structured questionnaire was administered to 290 MSMEs, of which 267 valid responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics through SPSS version 22. The findings revealed that operational transformation and customer experience transformation had significant positive effects on business performance, indicating that MSMEs that digitise internal processes and customer engagement platforms experience enhanced productivity and competitiveness. Conversely, organisational culture and workforce transformation, as well as product and service innovation, showed no statistically significant impact on business performance. Based on these findings, the study recommends that MSMEs in Benin City increase investment in workforce digital upskilling, cultivate innovation-friendly organisational cultures, and strategically prioritise digital innovation in product and service delivery. The research contributes to the body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on how various aspects of digital transformation influence MSME performance in an emerging market context.

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

This study examines the impact of stock market on the Nigeria economy from 1990 to 2023. The research investigates the relationships between key stock market indicators; market capitalization, all share index, monetary policy rate, inflation rate, and gross fixed capital formation and economic growth, measured by GDP. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the study explores both the short-run and long-run dynamics among these variables. Empirical findings reveal a significant long-run relationship between stock market performance and economic growth in Nigeria. Market capitalization and the all-share index exhibit strong positive effects on GDP, indicating that stock market expansion fosters capital mobilization, investment, and overall productivity. Institutional quality variables, such as civil and political rights, also influence growth by promoting governance stability and investor confidence. Inflation demonstrates a mild positive effect, while the monetary policy rate shows an insignificant impact on growth. The short-run results indicate that moderate inflation and improvements in institutional conditions support temporary economic expansion, while persistent inflation constrains growth. Diagnostic tests confirm the robustness and reliability of the model, showing no issues of serial correlation or heteroskedasticity. The study concludes that stock market development is a critical catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth and recommends policy reforms that enhance market efficiency, strengthen institutional frameworks, and encourage long-term investment participation.