Board dynamics and firm performance: The case of Nigeria

This study examines the relationship between board characteristics and company performance in Nigeria. The paper uses secondary data from 90 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange over a period of three years from 2010-2012. Conceptual framework was developed based on extensive review of literature and hypotheses postulated to examine the relationship between board size, board composition, board equity, women on board, board age and board higher educational qualification. Firm performance is measured by Turnover and Return on equity. Empirical analysis was undertaken using multiple regressions. The findings of the study show that board size, board age and board equity were negatively significant measured by ROE. However, when measured by Turnover board education and board size were significant and positively correlated with firm performance, while board women are negatively significant. On the other hand, board composition was found to be insignificant. The study recommends legislation mandating companies to appoint at least 30-35% of women on board of director

The Influence of In-Service Training, Seminars and Workshops Attendance by Social Studies Teachers on Academic Performance of Students in Junior Secondary Schools Incross River State, Nigeria

This research examined the influence of in-service training, seminar and workshop attendance by social studies teachers on students academic performance in Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study, one hypothesis was formulated to direct the study. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of five hunded Social Studies teachers (500) and students were selected for the study. The instruments for data collection were a set of questionnaire to measure Social Studies teachers in-service training, seminar and workshop training and Social Studies Performance Test (SOSPT)  to measure students academic performance. The reliability estimate of the instruments were established through the split-half reliability method and it associate Spearman Brown prophesy formula. Pearson product moment correlation analysis was adopted to test the hypothesis at .05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that there exists a positive and small relationship between the frequency of teachers’ attendance at in-service training, seminars and workshops and students’ academic performance in social studies. It was recommended that government should make it mandatory for all teachers in both primary and post primary to undergo professional training. As it is the case with other professions like law and medicine among others

Implication of Agricultural Practices, Commercial Logging and Forest Conservation in Ikono Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to investigate the implication of agricultural practices, commercial logging and forest conservation in Ikono Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. In order to achieve the set objective of this study, two hypotheses and tested statistically at 0.05 level of significance. Using Pearson product moment correlation analysis. The design used for the sampling was the survey research design while the sampling procedure used was the simple random sampling technique. A well validated 29-item questionnaire tagged “Implication of Agricultural Practices, Commercial Logging and Forest Conservation (IAPCLFC) was designed using the four point likert scale model and administered to a simple size of three hundred (300) persons drawn proportionally from the selected geo-political wards”. From the analysis, it was found that the two hypotheses were significantly related to forest conservation. Based on these, it was recommended that government should embark on an enlightenment campaign of the people, emphasis should be place on importance and benefits to be derived from forest resources. Keywords: agricultural practices, commercial logging, forest, conservatio

Board characteristics and company performance: Evidence from Nigeria

This study examines the relationship between board characteristics and company performance(measured by turnover) in Nigeria. The study uses multiple regression technique on 90 sampled firms from the main board of Nigerian Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2012. The empirical evidence shows that board size and board education are positively and significantly related to company performance. While there is no relationship between board equity, board independence, and board age. Also, this study evidences a negative significant between board women and turnover. Their appointment is window dressing as the percentage is too small for meaningful positive effect on company performance. Based on this finding, the study recommends legislation mandating companies listed on Nigerian Stock Exchange to appoint at l east 30 to 35% of women on the board of directors

A Methodology for the Categorisation of Software Projects in Nigeria Based on Performance

Software engineering projects in Nigeria have been classified generally as a failure, challenged or successful with no proof that the projects fall into these categories. The main focus has been on cost and time overrun, and attention has not been given to check whether projects truly fall within the given categories. Discriminant analysis was employed to determine how the 30 selected projects in the public sector in Nigeria can be correctly classified. This study developed a method for determining the actual category of software engineering projects concerning the characteristics of projects as a failure, challenged, or successful. The developed model was used to reclassify the thirty (30) projects, and it was discovered that twenty- one (21) projects were correctly classified giving 70% of correctly classified projects while nine (9) were wrongly classified giving 30%. It is possible for projects to satisfy the established success criteria (requirements met on time and within budget) whereas the stigma of failure still exists in its result. &nbsp

Determinants of Credit Access and Demand among Poultry Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Aims: The study examined the determinants of access and demand for credit among poultry farmers in Ikot Ekpene area of Akwa Ibom State in Southern Nigeria. Study Design: A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 90 poultry farmers. Structured questionnaires and personal interviews were used to collect cross sectional data used in the study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district of Akwa Ibom state in Southern Nigeria. Methodology: Independent double hurdle model was specified and used to determine factors influencing credit accessibility and demand among poultry farmers in the study area. Various tests were conducted to validate the used of the model. The variance inflation factor (VIF) was also employed to test the multi-collinearity among variables used in the analysis. Results: Empirical result from the first hurdle model revealed that the farmers’ age, gender, farm size, membership of social organization, extension agent visits, distance from the borrower’s (farmer) resident to lending source, years of formal education and household size are important determinants of access to credit in the study area. On the other hand, the amount of loan demanded by the poultry farmers was significantly influenced by the farmers’ experience in poultry business, cost of hired labour, previous years of experience on credit, present of surety, farm size, perceived loan repayment period, years of formal education and net farm income. Conclusion: poultry farmers in the study area should form cooperative societies to take advantage of ease of accessing and obtaining credit from credit institutions. The extension system in the study area should be strengthened for effective information dissemination especially on credit issues. Operators of credit institutions should endeavor to locate some of the lending outfits nearer to the poultry farmers. Also, to increase the demand for credit in the study area, the study advocated for the re-assessment of the collateral needs of the lending agents and the duration of loan to the poultry farmers among others