PRELIMINARY PAGES

PRELIMINARY PAGE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USAGE, REGULATORY PRESSURE AND ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE AMONG FEDERAL MDAs IN KWARA STATE

Corruption remains a major challenge in government parastatals, with frequent cases of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, leading to inefficiencies and poor decision-making. To address these concerns, this study examines the impact of information technology usage and regulatory pressure on accrual accounting compliance among federal MDAs in Kwara State. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 136 management staff selected from a population of 206 using simple random sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The findings revealed that: (i) information technology usage has a positive and statistically significant effect on accrual accounting compliance (β = 0.650, p < 0.05), and (ii) regulatory pressure also exerts a positive and significant influence on accrual accounting compliance (β = 0.669, p < 0.05). The study concludes that both information technology adoption and regulatory pressure significantly improve accrual accounting compliance among federal MDAs in Kwara State. The study recommends that organizations should engage IT-skilled professionals to train staff on the effective use of accounting technologies for the preparation and presentation of financial statements. Also, relevant agencies should conduct regular inspections and maintain consistent monitoring to ensure compliance with accrual accounting standards

INFLUENCE OF TAX REVENUE ON SELECTED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN TANZANIA

This study assessed influence of tax revenue on selected economic performance indicators in Tanzania, explicitly focused on inflation, unemployment and Nominal Gross Domestic Product. It employed a quantitative descriptive design where secondary data was used. Time series data for a period covering 2010 to 2022 was gathered from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Bank of Tanzania (BOT), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), IMF and World Bank data bases. Data was analyzed quantitatively through descriptive statistics and linear regression model. Study findings revealed a strong positive and significant relationship of tax revenue and country’s GDP where R2= 0.9972 and increase in 1 unit of tax revenue collected led to increase in 0.67 unit of GDP. Further findings revealed a significant positive relationship between tax revenue and inflation where R2 =0.9762 and increase in 1 unit of tax revenue collected led to increase in 0.61 unit of inflation. It was revealed that tax revenue and unemployment have negative but statistically significant relationship (R² = 0.9835; p = 0.0000) where increase in 1 unit of tax revenue collected led to 0.5unit decrease in unemployment. This study recommends to the government of Tanzania to design and institute best and feasible mechanisms such as digital transformation through its tax revenue authority to ensure efficacy of collections and stimulate positive multiplier effect on economic performance indicators which accelerate country’s economic growth and employment generation. It is further recommended that, Investment in socio-economic services such as generation of cheap power, subsidization of key economic sectors including agriculture, technical education and infrastructure development will greatly suppress both production and transaction costs that ultimately suppress cost-push inflation from taxation

ENHANCING INTERNET NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE IN NIGERIAN ISLAMIC BANKS: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

In the digital era, robust internet network infrastructure is fundamental to delivering efficient and satisfactory banking services. This paper presents a conceptual literature review exploring the intersection of internet infrastructure development and customer satisfaction within Nigerian Islamic banking. Despite the steady growth of Islamic financial institutions, the sector continues to face significant technological and infrastructural challenges that undermine service quality and customer experience. Drawing upon established frameworks such as the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model and SERVQUAL, the study identifies how improvements in internet reliability, speed, accessibility, and security can enhance digital service quality and customer satisfaction. A conceptual model is proposed to link infrastructure quality, service delivery, and Shariah compliance to customer outcomes. The review reveals that customer satisfaction in Nigerian Islamic banks is highly dependent on the quality of internet infrastructure and the integration of Shariah-compliant digital practices. Sustainable improvement requires both technical and ethical alignment in service delivery. As such, Islamic banks should establish service-level agreements (SLAs) with multiple internet providers to ensure redundancy and reliability; strengthen cybersecurity measures in compliance with Shariah ethical standards; and collaborate with regulators such as the NCC and NITDA to expand affordable broadband access, especially in underserved areas

IMPACT OF MANAGERIAL ABILITY ON FIRM PERFORMANCE AND RISK-TAKING: EVIDENCE FROM THE GERMAN INSURANCE SECTOR USING A THREE-STAGE EFFICIENCY FRAMEWORK

Managerial ability is increasingly acknowledged as a critical determinant of firm performance, particularly in highly regulated and risk-intensive sectors such as insurance. This study examines the estimation of managerial ability within the German insurance industry through a comprehensive three-stage framework that integrates Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), regression analysis, and residual-based evaluation. The panel dataset, spanning 2014 to 2023, isolates managerial ability by identifying deviations from predicted technical efficiency levels. Adopting a quantitative, explanatory research design, the study analyzes a balanced panel of 1,200 firm-year observations drawn from licensed German insurance firms over the period 2014–2023, selected using purposive sampling based on data availability and reporting consistency. The empirical results reveal substantial heterogeneity in both managerial competence and operational efficiency across firms, with firm size and market share emerging as significant positive contributors to efficiency. Specifically, second-stage regression results show that firm size (0.112, p < 0.001) and market share (0.067, p = 0.004) significantly enhance technical efficiency, while managerial ability exhibits a statistically significant positive effect on firm performance. The study identifies a robust and statistically significant positive association between managerial ability and firm performance, as proxied by return on equity (ROE), with Generalized Additive Model (GAM) estimates indicating a positive non-linear effect of managerial ability on ROE (s(MA) = 0.12, p = 0.002). The study concludes by recommending greater integration of managerial ability metrics into governance and supervisory frameworks, alongside targeted managerial development initiatives to sustain long-term performance improvements

BANK-SPECIFIC FACTORS AND LENDING BEHAVIOUR IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

The intermediary function carried out by commercial banks in moving financial resources from surplus units to deficit units continues to be most critical to economic activities across the globe including sub-Saharan Africa. However, literature revealed that challenges involving inadequate capital, poor asset quality and smaller bank sizes constrain the lending capacity of commercial banks in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to inefficient intermediation, weak lending capacity and financial underdevelopment. Therefore, this study aimed at examining the effect of bank-specific factors on lending behaviour in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study employed ex post facto research design. Population of the study consists of fifty-four (54) African nations within the sub-Sahara African region, while 14 sub-Sahara African countries were purposively drawn as the sample size of the study. Secondary data were sourced from World Development Indicators (WDI) and African Financials covering the period of 1990 to 2022. The study employed pooled ordinary least squares (POLS) regression method for the analysis. The results were that: capital adequacy ratio (β = 0.289; p-value = 0.000); asset quality (β = 0.306; p-value = 0.003); and bank size (β = 3.928; p-value = 0.000) have significant positive effect on lending behaviour in the SSA region. The study concluded that bank-specific factors affect lending behaviour in sub-Saharan Africa. The study therefore recommended that management of commercial banks in the SSA region should pursue growth strategies like mergers and acquisitions to achieve economies of scale and improve lending capacity; and policymakers should implement flexible guidelines for capital adequacy tailored to the unique economic conditions of sub-Saharan Africa, so as to ensure financial stability without over-restricting banks\u27 lending capacities

IMPACT OF AWARENESS OF DEEPFAKE USAGE IN MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ON CONSUMER PERCEIVED BRAND AUTHENTICITY

In today’s digitally driven marketing landscape, the emergence of deepfake technology has introduced both groundbreaking innovation and complex ethical dilemmas. While brands explore hyper-personalized content using AI-generated videos, concerns around consumer trust, authenticity, and transparency persist. This study investigates the impact of deepfake marketing on consumer perception, focusing on three key objectives: the relationship between consumer knowledge of deepfakes and perceived brand transparency, the influence of deepfake recognition ability on brand trust, and the effect of exposure frequency on message believability. Adopting a positivist research philosophy with a deductive approach, the study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, sampling 250 randomly selected students from Timeon Kairos Polytechnic, Lagos State. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis, were used to analyze the data. Findings reveal that consumer knowledge and deepfake recognition ability significantly influence perceptions of brand transparency and trust, respectively. Likewise, exposure frequency positively affects brand message believability. These results underscore the need for ethical AI use and enhanced digital literacy to foster consumer confidence in technologically advanced marketing. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for marketers and calls for greater alignment with emerging digital transparency standards

EFFECTS OF CLAIM SPECIFICITY AND SOURCE CREDIBILITY ON CONSUMER TRUST AND PURCHASE INTENTION IN GREEN MARKETING

The effectiveness of green marketing messages may be conceptualised through several theoretical lenses that explore how consumers process environmental claims and the factors that influence trust and purchase decisions. This study investigates the effects of claim specificity and source credibility on consumer trust and purchase intention in green marketing, while examining the moderating role of perceived greenwashing. A sample of 260 environmentally conscious consumers was recruited using stratified random sampling to ensure demographic representativeness across age, gender, education, and geographic location. The study employs a experimental design and collects primary data through structured surveys featuring mock eco-friendly product advertisements. Specifically, claim specificity (0.703, p < 0.001) and source credibility (0.657, p < 0.001) individually increase purchase intention, while their interaction exerts nuanced effects on consumers’ decisions. Perceived greenwashing significantly undermines these effects by increasing consumer skepticism (-0.468, p < 0.001). The findings underscore the necessity for firms to adopt transparent, verifiable environmental claims supported by credible sources to build consumer confidence. Policy implications include stricter enforcement of green marketing regulations, promotion of third-party certification, and targeted educational initiatives to improve environmental literacy. Recommendations emphasize tailored communication strategies and verification mechanisms to mitigate skepticism and encourage sustainable consumption behaviors. In conclusion, combining high claim specificity with credible sources is essential for enhancing trust and purchase intention, while addressing demographic differences and perceived greenwashing enhances the effectiveness of green marketing interventions

EFFECT OF PONZI SCHEMES ON FINANCIAL LOSSES IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM THE PAST AND RECENT SCAMS

This study examines the effect of Ponzi Schemes on Financial Losses in Nigeria by analyzing ten major schemes that operated between 2015 and 2025. The study population includes all publicly known fraudulent investment operations within this period, from which a purposive sample of ten schemes such as CBEX, MMM, MBA Forex, Crowd1, and FINAFRICA was selected based on financial scale, data availability, and public significance. Secondary data were gathered on variables including number of investors, promised return rates, scheme duration (in months), inflation, and unemployment. These data were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), investigative media reports (BusinessDay, Proshare), and prior academic research. Using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis, the study found that schemes offering the highest promised returns such as CBEX and Crowd1 produced the greatest financial losses. MBA Forex and FINAFRICA also recorded significant losses, regardless of their duration or investor count. Inflation was moderately associated with financial losses, indicating economic pressure as a contributing factor. Unemployment, however, showed a weaker influence, possibly due to lower risk-taking among jobless individuals. The findings suggest that investor vulnerability is driven by a combination of unrealistic return expectations, poor regulation, and economic instability. The study recommends stronger regulatory enforcement, public financial education, and economic reforms that address inflation and joblessness as strategies to reduce the appeal and impact of Ponzi schemes

SAVINGS BEHAVIOUR AND WEALTH ACCUMULATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Wealth accumulation remains a pressing economic challenge in Nigeria and South Africa, influenced by factors such as savings behavior, employment status, banking accessibility, and interest rates. This study employs a comparative quantitative approach using secondary macroeconomic data from national financial reports, economic surveys, and institutional databases to analyze these variables\u27 impact on wealth accumulation. Multiple regression analysis shows that savings behavior positively influences wealth accumulation with coefficients of β = 0.304 in Nigeria and β = 1.516 (p = 0.042) in South Africa. Employment status also significantly affects wealth accumulation, particularly in South Africa (2.859) compared to Nigeria (2.711). Banking accessibility has a marginally significant positive effect in Nigeria (1.978) but is insignificant in South Africa (-0.735). Interest rates show no significant impact in either country. The findings highlight the importance of financial literacy, employment growth, and banking infrastructure in enhancing wealth accumulation. Consequently, the study recommends implementing nationwide financial literacy programs aimed at reaching one million individuals annually via digital platforms and institutional training to strengthen savings behavior and foster sustainable wealth-building strategies