EFFECT OF BOARD ATTRIBUTES ON ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF LISTED MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN NIGERIA

The increasing global concern for the environment and the consequent academic interest in researching best environmental disclosure that enhances the quality of reporting had given tremendous drive for this current research. This study examined the effect of board-specific attributes on the environmental disclosure of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study used the correlational research design with a positivist research paradigm, and agency theory to underpin the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable of interest. The population of the study consisted of the 52 listed manufacturing firms on the Nigerian Exchange Group, the population was later reduced to a sample size of 43 manufacturing using the filtration method. Quantitative data were extracted from the audited annual reports of the 43 manufacturing firms used in the study for twelve-year period covering 2011 to 2022. The data were analyzed using the Fixed Effect regression technique. Findings from the study show a significant positive relationship between board size, board gender, board expertise, board independence, and environmental disclosure of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The implication of this result indicate that increase in these variables will lead to a corresponding increase in the environmental disclosure of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the management of the sampled firms should increase the minimum number of board size to nine members, board independence to about 11.92% of the directors on the board and the minimum number of women on the board should increase to 15.59% as established by the study. This is because it was established by the findings of the study that increase of the various variables as indicated by the descriptive statistics will promote the environmental disclosure among the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Also, the management of the firms should carry out policies that will promote the inclusion of foreign directors on the board as this was also shown to improve the environmental disclosure of manufacturing firms in Nigeria

THE EFFECTS OF FIRM ATTRIBUTES ON EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OF QUOTED CEMENT COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

This study evaluated certain firm attributes (proxied by firm size and audit quality)on earning management of listed cement firms in Nigeria. Secondary data was extractedfrom annual financial statement. A quantitative research design was adopted in the study. The population of the study comprises of all the cement firms listed on Nigerian stock exchange as at 31st December, 2021. As December 31st, 2021, there are 3 listed cement firms in Nigeria:  Dangote Cement Plc, BUA cement Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc. The idea behind sampling is to ascertain an adequate size that will represent the total population thereby saving costs and time wastage. The outcome of the study justified firm size (SIZE) has a positive and insignificant relationship with earnings management of listed cement firms (? = 0.0093, t= 1.44, p=0.168). In addition, the study established that audit quality (AQ) negatively and significantly effects on earnings management of listed cement firms in Nigeria (? =-0.0049, t= -2.40, p=0.027). The study recommended that the listed cement firms in Nigeria should consistently engage the services of big4 audit firms have a very huge incentive to maintain a high audit quality which assist in checkmating the operations of the managers and limit the instance of earnings management

THE EFFECT OF RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF LISTED DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS IN NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of risk management committee on the financial performance of listed Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria. Financial performance which is the dependent variable was proxied by return on assets (ROA), while enterprise risk management as the independent variable was proxied by risk management committee independence, risk committee size, ISO 27001 framework and COSO framework. Data were collected from secondary source. The data were extracted from the audited annual reports of the 14 listed DMBs on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) for the period of 2016-2022. The study employed the Generalized Least Square (GLS) regression technique in analyzing the study data. The findings revealed that ISO 27001 framework and COSO framework have a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of listed DMBs in Nigeria. Hence, it was concluded that ISO 27001 framework and COSO framework are among the major determinants of financial performance of listed DMBs in Nigeria. It was recommended that the managements of the listed DMBs in Nigeria should increase the use of ISO 27001 and COSO framework to assist them in mitigating risk and increasing the financial performance of the banks

FIRM ATTRIBUTES AND STOCK PRICE OF LISTED FINANCIAL SERVICE FIRMS IN NIGERIA

The Nigerian financial services sector, a critical component of the nation's economy, faces challenges in navigating the intricate interplay between share prices, dividend policies, and leverage. Despite the sector's pivotal role in mobilizing long-term resources and sustaining investor confidence, there exists a gap in understanding how specific firm attributes, particularly dividend policy and leverage, influence share prices over an extended period. Therefore, this research aims to address these gaps by examining the intricate relationships between dividend policy, leverage, and share prices in Nigerian financial service firms over a 15-year period from 2008-2022, employing robust methodologies for a more comprehensive and applicable understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the sector. The theoretical framework draws on signaling theory, providing insights into the complexities of stock prices and the strategic use of signals by managers. The study's employed correlation research design, multiple regressions on panel data, and robustness tests to ensure the validity and reliability of the statistical inference. The findings reveal a significant inverse relationship between share prices and leverage, emphasizing the importance of prudent debt structure management for investor confidence. Conversely, a significant and positive correlation is observed between share prices and dividend policy, underscoring the potential value enhancement through a robust dividend distribution plan. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, management should highlight the need for financial institutions to strike a balance between meeting obligations and minimizing risk exposure. Transparent communication, optimal debt management, and cultivating strong dividend policies are crucial. Policymakers and regulators should consider these findings to create a more robust and investor-friendly financial environment in Nigeria

EVALUATING THE DEBT-GROWTH NEXUS IN ECOWAS: AN INTEGRATIVE FRAMEWORK OF THE BURDEN OF DEBT SERVICING

This study investigates the impact of external debt, external debt servicing, employment, and other macroeconomic variables on economic growth within the ECOWAS sub-region, spanning the period from 2005 to 2023. Utilizing panel data from 15 ECOWAS countries, the analysis employs dynamic panel data models to explore the relationships between these variables. The results suggest that external debt negatively impacts GDP growth, while external debt servicing further exacerbates this negative effect. Conversely, employment levels and foreign direct investment (FDI) show positive associations with economic growth, highlighting their importance for long-term development. Additionally, the study finds that the interaction between external debt and debt servicing has a significant influence on growth, emphasizing the need for effective debt management strategies. These findings offer valuable policy implications for ECOWAS nations, advocating for sustainable debt practices, increased job creation, and enhanced investment policies to foster economic stability and growth in the region

EFFECT OF AUDIT COMPLIANCE PARAMETERS ON REGULATORY FILING TIMELINESS OF SOME SELECTED LISTED COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

The study examines the effect of audit compliance parameters on the regulatory filing timeliness of some selected listed companies in Nigeria. Regulatory filing timeliness is measured by the number of days between the financial year-end and the date the auditor signs the financial statements, while audit compliance parameters are represented by audit firm size, audit tenure, and audit committee size. Using a panel dataset of 42 firms over ten years (2012-2021), comprising 420 firm-year observations, the study employs a descriptive and correlational research design. Secondary data were collected using a convenience sampling approach and analyzed using Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regression. The hypotheses tested explore the relationship between each audit compliance parameter and regulatory filing timeliness. The findings show that audit firm size, audit tenure, and audit committee size all have a positive and statistically significant effect on the regulatory filing timeliness of listed firms in Nigeria. The results of the study suggested that larger audit firms, longer audit tenures, and effective audit committees contribute to timely financial disclosures. The study recommends that firms engage reputable auditors, maintain stable auditor relationships, and strengthen auditcommittee composition to enhance timeliness in financial reporting

EFFECT OF INTERNAL CONTROL COMPONENTS AND REVENUE LEAKAGE: EVIDENCE FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examines the relationship between internal control systems and revenue leakage in financial institutions in Edo State, specifically banks and microfinance institutions, by accessing how the various aspects of internal control, which includes control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring, contribute to minimizing financial losses due to revenue leakage.This exploratory study utilised the administration of a well-structured 5-point Likert scale questionnaire to 384 employees of financial institutions in Edo State in gathering data. The instrument's reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.856. Data analysis involved the use of both descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to assess the relationship between internal control components and revenue leakage. The findings revealed that control activities had a significant relationship with revenue leakage, while other internal control components such as risk assessment, information and communication, and monitoring did not show a significant relationship with revenue leakage. This suggests that while control activities are crucial in minimizing revenue leakage, other components may require more effective implementation. Notably, the positive relationship of the coefficients contradicts the expected negative link between strong internal controls and revenue leakage. This may indicate that internal controls, though present, are not effectively enforced or are implemented superficially.  The study recommends strengthening of control activities and enhancing the integration of risk assessment and monitoring mechanisms to reduce revenue leakage in financial institutions

GOVERNANCE, DIGITAL FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS, AND GREEN GROWTH: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF FINTECH ON CARBON NEUTRALITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

This study examines the interplay between natural resource dependence, fintech development, and fiscal policy in shaping carbon neutrality outcomes in developing economies over the period 2000 to 2023. Utilizing panel data econometric techniques, including fixed effects and dynamic panel models, the analysis reveals that fintech innovation significantly contributes to reducing carbon emissions by enhancing financial inclusion and promoting green investments. Conversely, excessive reliance on natural resources exacerbates environmental degradation, while prudent fiscal policies and institutional quality mitigate these adverse effects. The findings underscore the critical role of digital financial infrastructure and sound governance in advancing sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Policy recommendations advocate for targeted fintech promotion alongside resource management reforms to achieve carbon neutrality goals in emerging markets

THE INTERMEDIATING ROLE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE MICROFINANCE SUSTAINABILITY NEXUS: EVIDENCE FROM WOMEN-LED SMES IN NIGERIA

This study examines the interconnected roles of microfinance access and financial literacy in enhancing business sustainability among women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data from 3,421 women entrepreneurs across urban and peri-urban regions, the study employs a mediation analysis within an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) framework, supported by bootstrapping procedures and robustness checks using structural equation modelling. The empirical findings reveal that access to microfinance significantly enhances business sustainability, while financial literacy independently contributes to sustainability outcomes. Importantly, financial literacy mediates the relationship between microfinance and business sustainability, with a statistically significant indirect effect, validated by the Sobel test and bootstrapped confidence intervals. Control variables such as age, education, and business location further contextualize the findings. These results highlight the critical role of cognitive and educational capabilities in translating access to finance into sustainable business performance. Policymakers and development practitioners are encouraged to embed financial literacy training within microfinance schemes and develop targeted programs for rural and underserved populations. Future research should adopt longitudinal and experimental designs to validate causality and assess sectoral and digital moderating factors in the financial empowerment of women entrepreneurs

RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR MICROFINANCE BANKS IN NIGERIA: A CREDIT RISK FOCUS

This study, Risk Management Strategies for Microfinance Banks in Nigeria with a Credit Risk Focus, explores the critical role of credit risk management in sustaining capital adequacy and promoting financial stability among Nigerian microfinance banks a sector fundamental to financial inclusion but often overlooked in mainstream banking research. Drawing on a comprehensive 19-year dataset (2005-2023), the study empirically investigates the effects of three key credit risk mitigation instruments: Loan Loss Reserves, Collateralization, and Credit Insurance. Using advanced econometric techniques, including cointegration analysis and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the findings reveal that Loan Loss Reserves and Collateralization significantly influence capital adequacy in the short term, while Credit Insurance demonstrates both short-term and long-term effects, making it an essential tool for sustained financial stability. By focusing specifically on microfinance institutions rather than commercial banks, the study addresses a critical gap in the literature and regulatory discourse. The results highlight the importance of strengthening reserve provisioning frameworks, minimizing over-reliance on collateral through diversified credit risk assessments, and expanding the adoption of credit insurance to reduce default exposure and enhance solvency. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the integration of credit risk practices into broader institutional and regulatory mechanisms aimed at reinforcing both capital adequacy and the financial stability of the microfinance sector. The research contributes to theory by applying the Financial Stability Hypothesis within the microfinance context and offers actionable insights to policymakers and financial institutions seeking to build a more resilient, inclusive banking system