Evaluation of corporate governance practices in emerging markets (A case study of Nigerian Banking industry)

This study explores corporate governance practices within the context of the Nigerian banking industry using instances of corporate governance lapses that resulted in part to the Nigerian banking crises. We present multiple case analysis of publicly available documents and court papers (in the United Kingdom and Nigeria) to document instances of breach and areas of weakness in the existing Nigerian code of corporate governance. We supported these with data obtained from multiple sources (using semi-structured interviews, observation and further documentary analysis) to explain and yield insight to the motivation behind these corporate governance practices. The research’s theoretical framework adopts theoretical triangulation and is designed to extend the present application of institutional theories and legitimacy theories to include roles of external and internal institutions, power blocks, and the role of legitimacy seeking acts in influencing corporate governance practices. From the case analysis, we suggest multiple actors and influences exist to shape the corporate governance practices within most commercial banks. These lapses make it possible for dominant actors within the organisation to exhibit symbolic compliance while taking advantage of these lapses to shareholders detriment

Effect of nutrition education on knowledge of nutrition in relation to prevention of stomach cancer among undergraduates in South-West, Nigeria

Stomach cancer is one of the common cancers worldwide including developing countries and is identified as one of the most lethal among the diet related cancers. In Nigeria, there is paucity of data and information about the prevalence of stomach cancer and without doubt this disease is on the increase. Youth engage in the consumption of western diets which have been identified in the literature as one factor that is closely associated with cancers. This shift to western diets by most youth maybe due to lack of nutritional knowledge on the health consequences of their eating habits. In years to come, there may be an increase in the incidence of diet-related cancers and other chronic diseases if nutrition education is not put in place especially among the youth. Not many studies in Nigeria have focussed on nutrition education of the youth in relation to the prevention of chronic diseases; prominent among which is stomach cancer. This study is aimed at providing nutrition related education touniversity undergraduates in order to create awareness about nutrition with a view to preventing a rise in the incidence of stomach cancer and other chronic diseases. A quasi-experimental design was used for this study. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 436 male and female undergraduates between 16-25 years old from two universities in south-west Nigeria (one control and one experimental). The intervention consisted of lectures on nutritional factors of stomach cancer one hourweekly for 8 weeks and a placebo lecture on HIV/AIDS stigmatization for the control group. A validated self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data for the pretest and posttest. Demographic characteristics were analyzed with percentages; variables were analyzed using t-test and ANCOVA set at 95% confidence interval. Nutrition education improved knowledge of nutrition in the participants (p<0.00). The experimental group displayed higher nutrition knowledge compared to control. Level of study affected participants’ nutrition knowledge; students of lower level study performed better (p<0.00). Gender also affected participants’ nutrition knowledge; females performed better than males (p<0.00). More nutrition education should be encouraged in school settings to improve knowledge of nutrition in order to prevent a possible dietary risk of stomach cancer and other chronic diseases

Characterization of Bioactive Recombinant Human Lysozyme Expressed in Milk of Cloned Transgenic Cattle

BACKGROUND: There is great potential for using transgenic technology to improve the quality of cow milk and to produce biopharmaceuticals within the mammary gland. Lysozyme, a bactericidal protein that protects human infants from microbial infections, is highly expressed in human milk but is found in only trace amounts in cow milk. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have produced 17 healthy cloned cattle expressing recombinant human lysozyme using somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this study, we just focus on four transgenic cattle which were natural lactation. The expression level of the recombinant lysozyme was up to 25.96 mg/L, as measured by radioimmunoassay. Purified recombinant human lysozyme showed the same physicochemical properties, such as molecular mass and bacterial lysis, as its natural counterpart. Moreover, both recombinant and natural lysozyme had similar conditions for reactivity as well as for pH and temperature stability during in vitro simulations. The gross composition of transgenic and non-transgenic milk, including levels of lactose, total protein, total fat, and total solids were not found significant differences. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Thus, our study not only describes transgenic cattle whose milk offers the similar nutritional benefits as human milk but also reports techniques that could be further refined for production of active human lysozyme on a large scale

Management accounting system changes : a case study of a family controlled bank

Family controlled businesses represent a significant proportion of global businesses in some countries accounting for as much as seventy five percent of business income. While an emerging body of knowledge has focused on Management Accounting in aspects of family business, these processes in family controlled banks remains less researched in Management Accounting literature and nascent in the context of emerging market economy as Nigeria. This study explores complexities and organisational dynamics associated with Management Accounting System (MAS) changes experienced by a family controlled banking group while transforming to a financial services group by examining inter organisational to intra organisational influences in the process of MAS changes. The study extends the use of institutional theory in examining possible influences shaping the overall process of MAS changes and how MAS changes are transmitted between a group and component subsidiary firms. Thus, by adopting a single case study organisation with multiple units of analysis and data obtained from multiple sources (Primary and Secondary), this study explores MAS change processes in the case study organisation using time and life course analysis. This is combined with a theoretical framework adopting theoretical triangulation and is designed to extend the present application of institutional theory to include role of external and internal institutions, power blocks, and family interests in influencing, designing, implementing or resisting MAS change processes. By extending current knowledge of institutional factors and how they affect the process of MAS changes to a varied context as family businesses operating in an emerging market economy, the study provides evidence of how change evolves under varied influences of institutional factors and how actors reshape change initiatives across the inter and intra organisational levels. Findings indicate family owners as sources of resistance, family trust as an influencing factor in design and implementation of MAS in subsidiary firms. Furthermore, controlling family members mobilise resources to influence variations in the level of implementation and extent of MAS control(s) in subsidiary firms (where there is strong family presence in management) lending credence to the notion of practice variation framework in institutional theory. Keywords: Management accounting, Change, Management accounting system, Organizational change, Banks, Family business

Effect Of Nutrition Education On Knowledge Of Nutrition In Relation To Prevention Of Stomach Cancer Among Undergraduates In South-West, Nigeria

Stomach cancer is one of the common cancers worldwide including developing countries and is identified as one of the most lethal among the diet related cancers. In Nigeria, there is paucity of data and information about the prevalence of stomach cancer and without doubt this disease is on the increase. Youth engage in the consumption of western diets which have been identified in the literature as one factor that is closely associated with cancers. This shift to western diets by most youth may be due to lack of nutritional knowledge on the health consequences of their eating habits. In years to come, there may be an increase in the incidence of diet-related cancers and other chronic diseases if nutrition education is not put in place especially among the youth. Not many studies in Nigeria have focussed on nutrition education of the youth in relation to the prevention of chronic diseases; prominent among which is stomach cancer. This study is aimed at providing nutrition related education to university undergraduates in order to create awareness about nutrition with a view to preventing a rise in the incidence of stomach cancer and other chronic diseases. A quasi-experimental design was used for this study. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 436 male and female undergraduates between 16-25 years old from two universities in south-west Nigeria (one control and one experimental). The intervention consisted of lectures on nutritional factors of stomach cancer one hour weekly for 8 weeks and a placebo lecture on HIV/AIDS stigmatization for the control group. A validated self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data for the pretest and posttest. Demographic characteristics were analyzed with percentages; variables were analyzed using t-test and ANCOVA set at 95% confidence interval. Nutrition education improved knowledge of nutrition in the participants (p<0.00). The experimental group displayed higher nutrition knowledge compared to control. Level of study affected participants’ nutrition knowledge; students of lower level study performed better (p<0.00). Gender also affected participants’ nutrition knowledge; females performed better than males (p<0.00). More nutrition education should be encouraged in school settings to improve knowledge of nutrition in order to prevent a possible dietary risk of stomach cancer and other chronic diseases