Bank Capitalization and Cost of Equity on Profitability of Nigeria Deposit Money Banks – General Moment Approach

The recapitalization of the capital base of banks in 2005 constituted the first phase of the reform policy in the entire banking sector of the Nigerian economy. The key elements in the agenda included minimum capital base of N25 billion with a deadline of 31st December, 2005. Most of the banks were able to meet the deadline through mergers and acquisitions amongst other alternatives. This paper examines the trend and the effects of bank recapitalization on deposit money banks in Nigeria in terms of performance and more specifically profitability and cost of equity. The data used for this study were processed using Paired Sample test technique for difference between two periods before and after the recapitalization era in addition to the E-view electronic packages. The test of difference of mean helped us to compare the means of the variables before and after recapitalization to see if there is any significant difference between the two periods. The evidence from the study shows that recapitalization is significant to performance of deposit money banks but has not shown increasing impact on their profitability. We therefore recommend that recapitalization should be part of the integrating process to the development of the banking sector and the banks should put in place proactive measures and policies to enable it boost its profitability leve

Foreign Direct Investment: Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria

This is a conceptual review (content analysis) of the effect of foreign direct investment as a catalyst for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. The major objective is a comparative analysis of 87 developing countries with the capacity to attract FDI and proffer possible solutions that will catapult Nigeria as a globally acceptable haven for foreign investment. The secondary data were sourced from Investing Across Borders (IAB) 2010 report where 87 developing countries across the globe were assessed using the IAB indicators. The major conclusion drawn from the survey is that Nigeria as a country is yet to maximize its potentials (given available resources and market size) at attracting foreign investment. It also concludes that the process of foreign business establishment/ownership in Nigeria need to be improved upon to encourage high patronage of foreigners in economic activities. This study therefore recommends that Government should make policies that will encourage equity ownership of investments in Nigeria by foreigners. The authorities should put in place machineries that will ensure a transparent and simple business registration and ownership process

Conceptual Review of the Effects of Advertising on Consumer Buying Behaviour

Over the years, advertising has become a regular strategy for positioning products, services and ideas in the market place. Yet an over dependence on advertising could be counter-productive and disdainful for the targeted audience who often regard excessive advertising as information overload. In spite of the growing criticisms about the effectiveness or otherwise of advertising, its relevance in contemporary marketing management is not in doubt. This exploratory study was structured to critically to examine the usefulness of advertising in persuading consumers to adopt a new or an existing product, with a special focus on Nigeria as a developing economy. The aim primarily was to examine the effect of advertising on consumer buying behaviour within the Nigerian context. The study focused on revealing the relationship either positively or negatively, between advertising and consumer buying behaviour. It equally postulates what effect continuous advertisement of product has on consumer buying behaviour. The findings indicate that advertisements that are properly packaged will surely persuade consumers to experiment the particular product, and that such advertisement should be executed long enough to generate such curiosity that will motivate consumers to buy. The study recommends a proper understanding of various segments of customers and their buying behaviours. And the organisation as well as others, must endeavour to understand the buying behaviour of its customers in order to identify the - what, why, where, when and how - they buy; otherwise, an unstructured advertising campaign will not yield positive results

Farmers Adoption Scenarios for the Control of Cassava Mosaic Disease under the Cassava Enterprise Development Project in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study determined farmers’ adoption levels of the cassava varieties and value adding technologies introduced under the project. Data for the study were collected from 260 randomly selected respondents using interview schedule. Farmers’ adoption indices were used to summarize information on adoption levels, while exploratory factor analysis procedure using principal factor model with varimax rotation was used in grouping the major constraint factors to adoption. Results showed that farmers were still at the interest stage of the adoption of the cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistant varieties ( ̅=2.44), cassava processing innovations ( ̅=2.32), and improved marketing methods ( ̅=2.25). Farmers were at the evaluation stage in the adoption of agronomic practices ( ̅= 3.27) while, processors were at the evaluation stage in both processing and improved marketing innovations ( ̅= 3.43 and 3.12 respectively). However, they were at interest stage ( ̅= 2.84) in the adoption of the value adding technologies. Public and private extension agencies should therefore be encouraged to continue the extension service delivery of the CEDP innovations for greater proportion of cassava farmers to adopt the new varieties for sustainable production of cassava in the country.Keywords: Improved cassava variety, Cassava mosaic disease, Cassava enterprise development projec

A Review of the Causes and Effects of Disparities in Global Financial Performances of Cooperative Societies

Unlike small and medium scale enterprises, there is no doubt that cooperative societies have attracted little attention from both the public and private sectors. This is not the case in industrialized countries such as Denmark, USA, Great Britain, etc; where they have contributed immensely to the GDP of their respective economies. A review by various scholars of the various ways of financing cooperatives in Nigeria reveals that there is no adequate nation-wide financing agency. This study aims among others to review through historical data the operational and policy frameworks of the global and Nigerian cooperatives societies and other dependent cooperatives scattered all over the globe and their emerging trends in sourcing for funds. The methodology used is the content analysis. Historical (secondary data) such as journals, articles, textbooks, newspapers and Internet etc are employed. The paper identified the financing gap existing in cooperative movement in order for them to assume their proper position in the scheme of things in an emerging global economy. This paper recommends that amongst others that the Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Scheme (An initiative of the Bankers Committee) should be extended to Nigerian Cooperative Societies

Fraud, Unemployment and Cashless System: A paradox or Reality in Nigeria

The challenges envisaged in a cashless economy in Nigeria are fraud, indiscriminate deductions from accounts, unemployment, high rate of illiteracy and epileptic power supply. Various researchers identified negative public perception, high e-banking charges, payment infrastructure gap, unbanked majority and absence of legal framework to corroborate international policy as imminent challenges of the cashless policy. The objective of this study is to investigate if cashless economy will reduce fraud and unemployment in Nigeria. The methodology employed for testing the hypotheses is a statistical parametric test called Pair Sample t-test through the use of SPSS statistical package. The study rejects the null hypotheses which mean that cashless economy would increase the rate of fraud and unemployment in Nigeria. The study recommends immediate job financial empowerment for those that will suffer job loss as a result of cashless policy. There should also be adequate legislation on all aspects of the operations of the cashless system so that both the operators of the system and the public can be adequately protected for internet, physical, and other related security issue

Credit Risk Management: Implications on Bank Performance and Lending Growth

This study is an empirical investigation into the quantitative effect of credit risk management on the performance of Nigeria’s Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Bank lending growth over the period of 17 years (1998- 2014). Secondary data for empirical analysis was obtained from CBN Statistical bulletin 2014 and World Bank (WDI) 2015. The study employed multiple linear regression model to analyze the time series data. The result showed that sound credit management strategies can boost investors and savers confidence in banks and lead to a growth in funds for loans and advances which leads to increased bank profitability.. The findings revealed that credit risk management has an insignificant impact on the growth of total loans and advances by Nigerian Deposit money banks. The study therefore recommends that DMBs in Nigeria should strictly adhere to their credit appraisal policies which ensures that only credit worthy borrowers have access to loanable funds. Banks are to ensure that funds are allocated to borrowers with decent to high credit rating

Medication adherence and blood pressure control amongst adults with primary hypertension attending a tertiary hospital primary care clinic in Eastern Nigeria

Background: As the case detection rates of hypertension increase in adult Nigerians, achieving target blood pressure (BP) control has become an important management challenge.Objectives: To describe medication adherence and BP control amongst adult Nigerians with primary hypertension attending a primary care clinic of a tertiary hospital in a resource-poor environment in Eastern Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 140 adult patients with primary hypertension who have been on treatment for at least 6 months at the primary care clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. A patient was said to have achieved goal BP control if the BP was < 140 per 90 mmHg. Adherence was assessed in the previous 30 days using a pretested researcher-administered questionnaire on 30 days of self-reported therapy. Adherence was graded using an ordinal scoring system of 0–4; an adherent patient was one who scored 4 points in the previous 30 days. Reasons for non-adherence were documented.Results: Adherence to medication and BP control rates were 42.9% and 35.0% respectively. BP control was significantly associated with medication adherence (p = 0.03), antihypertensive medication duration ≥3 years (p = 0.042), and taking ≥ one form of antihypertensive medication (p = 0.04). BP at the recruitment visit was significantly higher than at the end of the study (p = 0.036). The most common reason for non-adherence was forgetfulness (p = 0.046). Conclusion: The rate of BP control amongst the study population was low, which may be connected with low medication adherence. This study urges consideration of factors relating to adherence alongside other factors driving goal BP control

Assessment of Indoor Radon Concentration Levels in Offices of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria

Background: Indoor radon concentration levels are an essential component for assessing radiation exposure to populations. Indoor Radon levels have not been reported for offices of academic staff of The University of Nigeria, Enugu, which is located on a hilly rocky plain.Purpose: To establish potential for radiation hazards to persons using offices for extended periods of time.Materials and Methods: Four offices were randomly selected from each of the five faculties in the campus, making a total of twenty surveyed offices. Short term Electret Ion Chamber Technology (EIC) with the trade name E-PERMTM was employed for the measurement of radon concentration in the offices.Results: Average indoor radon concentration in the offices range between 2.5 Bq m-3 to 21.3 Bq m-3 with an arithmetic mean of 11.8 Bq m-3.Conclusion: Indoor Radon levels in University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus offices is currently within acceptable safe limits

Intentions of Registered Antenatal Clinic Patients About Utilizing Labour and Delivery Services if They Tested HIV-Positive

Background: Nigeria bears a sizeable proportion of the global HIV burden; mother to child transmission as a major contributor and prevention of mother to child transmission the hope for a HIV-free generation.Objective: To find evaluate how booked antenatal attendees intend to utilize the labour and delivery services of the state teaching hospital in Abakaliki in their index pregnancies and if they tested HIV positive.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of the attendees to the booking clinic. Data on patients' ages, marital status, past obstetric history, where clients would deliver their index pregnancies normallyand if they tested positive to HIV, and the reasons behind their decisions, were collected with pretested self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 15.Results: Four hundred and twenty-three (84.6%) of the questionnaires were analyzed. There were 288 patients who had been previously pregnant, of whom 274 (95.1%) booked for antenatal care, with 90.5%of the booking occurring after the first trimester. About 16.7% delivered in facilities without skilled professional care. A total of 90.8% of the respondents desired to deliver their index pregnancies in the teaching hospital because the hospital is equipped for emergency obstetric care. If HIV positive in index pregnancy, 93.9% will prefer to deliver in the teaching hospital mainly to prevent mother to child transmission. However, 6.1% of the respondents did not desire to deliver in the teaching hospital even ifpositive, with some even preferring to deliver at home.Conclusion: A HIV-free generation can be achieved if pregnant mothers are encouraged to utilize labour and delivery services that help prevent mother to child transmission of HIV by provision of free maternal services, conduction of staff education to correct unfriendliness, refitting the labour and delivery wards, introduction of community PMTCT, continued awareness creation and economic empowerment.Keywords: Utilization, Labour, Booking, Antenatal Clients, Nigeri