SAMUEL UMANAH

This study examined the relationship between foreign exchange rate fluctuations and corporate profitability using panel data of thirteen commercial banks listed on the Nigeria Exchange Group for the period 2018–2022. The variables considered were corporate profitability proxied by return on capital employed and return on assets, exchange rate, inflation rate and interest rate. The study carried out a histogram normality test, Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey test of heteroskedasticity, Ramsey RESET model specification test, serial correlation test, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The F-statistics indicated that all the explanatory variables taken together are statistically significant. The regression result revealed that exchange rate has a positive and statistically insignificant relationship with return on capital employed and return on assets. The study recommended that government should formulate policies that are consistent in controlling exchange rate fluctuations and that interest rate should be controlled by the government to encourage firms to source external capital for their expansion.

This study investigates the impact of audit committee characteristics on financial reporting quality among selected oil and gas firms in Nigeria, covering the period 2019 to 2023. The research examines key audit committee attributes, including independence, size, financial expertise, and meeting frequency, while controlling for firm size. Secondary data were collected from annual reports of the sampled firms and analyzed using EViews 13. Descriptive statistics provided an overview of the variables, followed by correlation analysis, diagnostic tests, and multiple regression analysis to test the formulated hypotheses. The results indicate that audit committee independence has a significant positive impact on financial reporting quality, enhancing transparency and reliability of financial statements. Conversely, audit committee size, expertise, and meeting frequency do not exhibit statistically significant effects, suggesting that mere structural attributes without active monitoring and effective governance practices may not improve reporting quality. Diagnostic tests confirm the absence of multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation, and non-normality, affirming the validity of the regression results. The findings underscore the critical role of independent audit committees in promoting high-quality financial reporting in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and provide practical insights for policymakers and corporate governance stakeholders seeking to strengthen oversight mechanisms.

This study investigated sustainability reporting with focus on environmental, social and governance in relation to the corporate financial performance among listed companies in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the influence of environmental, social responsibility and corporate governance disclosure on corporate financial performance. A total
of eighty-three (83) companies in agriculture, consumer goods, industrial goods, healthcare, oil and gas, and deposit money bank constituted the population while forty-five (45) companies formed the sample size. The statistical tools employed include descriptive statistics and panel least square regression. The study found that environmental and social disclosures have no significant influence, but have positive relationship with corporate financial performance, while corporate governance has significant positive relationship with corporate financial performance. The study recommended that companies should engage in environmental, social responsibility and corporate governance activities for the interest of various stakeholders

The study examines the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on accounting fraud prevention in private firms. The research investigates the use of various ICT tools, including accounting software, cybersecurity measures, automated internal controls, and employee ICT training, and their roles in detecting and preventing fraudulent activities. The research instrument used in this study includes surveys and questionnaires administered to accounting professionals across selected private firms in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The findings indicate that accounting software, when effectively implemented, enhances data accuracy and reduces fraud. Cybersecurity measures, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, also play a critical role in protecting financial data. Additionally, automated internal controls significantly limit opportunities for fraud, while employee ICT training helps in recognizing fraud risks and adhering to ethical standards. Based on these findings, the study recommends that private firms invest in comprehensive ICT systems, continuous employee training, and strong cybersecurity
measures to strengthen their fraud prevention frameworks and enhance organizational integrity.

This study examined the impact of audit committee effectiveness on financial reporting quality among one hundred (100) Nigerian listed companies from 2019 to 2024. Despite governance reforms under CAMA (2020) and the NCCG (2018), concerns remain about earnings management and reporting credibility. The study analyzed audit committee attributes, independence, financial expertise, size, meeting frequency, and committee effectiveness, using a quantitative panel design and fixed-effects regression. Financial reporting quality was measured using a composite index covering accrual quality, timeliness, audit opinion quality, and disclosure compliance. Results show that independence, financial expertise, meeting frequency, and committee effectiveness significantly improve financial reporting quality, with financial expertise being the strongest predictor. Audit committee size was not significant. Among control variables, company size and committee independence positively affect reporting quality, while leverage has a negative effect. The study concludes that competence and active engagement enhance governance effectiveness more than structural compliance and recommends strengthening expertise, independence, meeting practices, etc.

This study examined the impact of audit committee effectiveness on financial reporting quality among one hundred (100) Nigerian listed companies from 2019 to 2024. Despite governance reforms under CAMA (2020) and the NCCG (2018), concerns remain about earnings management and reporting credibility. The study analyzed audit committee attributes, independence, financial expertise, size, meeting frequency, and committee effectiveness, using a quantitative panel design and fixed-effects regression. Financial reporting quality was measured using a composite index covering accrual quality, timeliness, audit opinion quality, and disclosure compliance.
Results show that independence, financial expertise, meeting frequency, and committee effectiveness significantly improve financial reporting quality, with financial expertise being the strongest predictor. Audit committee size was not significant. Among control variables, company size and committee independence positively affect reporting quality, while leverage has a negative effect. The study concludes that competence and active engagement enhance governance effectiveness more than structural compliance and recommends strengthening expertise, independence, meeting practices, etc.