DIVIDEND POLICY AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REGULATION AND PRACTICE IN NIGERIAN BANKS

This research examines impact of corporate governance regulation and practice on dividend policy using case study of First and Zenith Bank. The objective of this research is to examine, investigate and evaluate if and how corporate governance regulation and practice affect or influence dividend policy in banks. This research adopted a mixed method approach that is using both qualitative and quantitative approach. The research instruments used in data analyses were descriptive analyses, chi-square and multiple linear regressions. The findings in this research were; corporate governance regulation and practice has impact on dividend policy, non-executive directors are very essential in dividend policy decisions as to whether they pay or do not pay dividends, that corporate governance disclosure, board size and size of executive directors are major contributors to the dividend policy adopted and that dividend payments can be used as a corporate governance measure to reduce agency cost. This research revalidates and supports the use of agency theory that major studies regarding corporate governance support. This research also supports that corporate governance regulation and practice have impact on dividend policy. This research shows that Nigeria can rely on the details in this research

Assessing the zero hunger target readiness in Africa in the face of COVID-19 pandemic

Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) is hinged on achieving zero hunger target globally by 2030. Many developing countries, especially African countries, are challenged with extreme hunger that are often caused or compounded by bad governance, conflicts and climate change. In this paper, we assess Africa’s readiness towards attaining the zero hunger target by 2030 in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. Patterns of Global Hunger Index (GHI) and each of its indicators across Africa are compared before the pandemic (2000-2019). The effect of the pandemic on the hunger situation in Africa is discussed by highlighting the mitigating measures put in place by selected African governments. We have found that most African countries have recorded steady reduction in their child mortality rates but high prevalence of undernourishment, stunting and child wasting indicates significant challenges hampering the achievement of the zero hunger target. The study recommends that African governments should prioritize sustainable agricultural practices and give serious attention to the formulation and implementation of policies that reduce hunger against the COVID-19 pandemic.https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/carakatanipm2021Veterinary Tropical Disease

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEBT RATIO AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF NIGERIAN QUOTED COMPANIES

This study examined the relationship between debt ratio and financial performance of selected Nigerian quoted. This research work also examined whether asset turnover is related firm financial performance as well as whether asset tangibility is related firm financial performance. Data for the period of five years (2011-2015), sourced from the annual reports of the quoted companies was used in carrying out the analysis. The variable used werey debt ratio , assets turnover, assets tangibility, and financial performance (i.e. profitability) is proxied by return on assets.STATA software was engaged in performing the correlation and regression analysis. The study detected that from the regression analysis that debt ratio and financial performance are positively and significantly related. The result also revealed that asset turnover and financial performance are negaitively and but not significantly related whlie assets tangibility and financial performance are positively and significantly related

International financial reporting standards (IFRSs) adoption in Africa: Abibliometric analysis

Countries in Africa have since joined their counterparts in other regions of the world in adopting IFRSs with over 30 countries either requiring or permitting its use for its companies. This study contributes to academic literature as it presents a bibliometric analysis on the state of IFRS research in Africa. The analysis involves 73 published articles listed on Scopus database between 2005 and 2018. Key findings in the study indicate that the first research document on Scopus database on IFRS in Africa was in 2005, despite its early adoption since 1993 in Zimbabwe. There is a continued upward growth in the volume of publications and citations over the years. The year of first IFRSs adoption is not associated with the volume of publication. Top five leaders in the volume of publication on IFRSs include Tunisia and Egypt, these countries are yet to adopt IFRSs. The dominant subject areas on IFRSs research are Business, Management & Accounting, Economics, Econometrics & Finance and Social Sciences. Only 21 authors and 18 institutions out of over 600 institutions in Africa contribute more than one publication to IFRS research. These institutions and authors are all in six African countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda and Ghana). Recommendations from the result include the need for higher visibility of research on IFRS. Approximately 87% of the publications are non-open access and the need for more academic conference on IFRS as conference proceedings accounts for only 11%

Spatial Profiles and Determinants of Multidimensional Energy Poverty in Rural Nigeria

This study aims at examining the multidimensional energy poverty (MEP) and its determinants in six geo-political zones of rural Nigeria. We utilized the 2018/2019 Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) data collected by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with World Bank. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI), Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA), Tobit model, and Pearson correlation. The analysis showed that over 90% of the respondents live below the MEP line with the North East (NE) and South West (SW) having the highest (98.7%) and lowest (82%) respectively. The intensity of MEP at the national level was 0.330. The results of the multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI) which stood at 0.31 in the country, was highest in the NE (0.345) and lowest in the SW (0.279). Although with varying strength of relationships across the zones, cooking, lighting, and kitchen appliances are notable dimensions that have a significant positive correlation with aggregate MEP. Education, sex, and occupation of the household head as well as household size and monthly expenditure are determinants of the MEP in the country. There are implications for zone-specific and women-focused interventions relating to clean energy and access to kitchen appliances

COST REDUCTION STRATEGIES AND THE GROWTH OF SELECTED MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

The problem of high manufacturing costs has led to the shutdown of many manufacturing companies in Nigeria. This study examines the relationship between cost reduction strategies and the growth of manufacturing companies in Nigeria using data from annual reports of 40 manufacturing companies quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange within the period of 2012-2016. 40 manufacturing companies were sampled purposively for this study. The study took changes in material cost, changes in labour cost and changes in administrative overhead as variables for cost reduction strategies while changes in turnover as the variable for Growth. Correlation analysis was conducted to determine the association cost reduction strategies and growth while, regression analysis was used to determine the impact of cost reduction strategies on the growth of manufacturing companies. Results showed a positive significant relationship between cost reduction strategies and growth of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study recommends that manufacturing companies should implement value analysis in order to reduce material costs and the implementation of cost reduction strategies in all manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Key words: Strategic Management Accounting, Cost reduction strategies, Value analysis, Budget Discipline, Nigeri

COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security and caused psychosocial stress in selected states of Nigeria

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS : TABLE S1: Economic and livelihood data and food-related issues for respondents psychosocial and food security-related impacts of COVID-19, Nigeria; TABLE S2: Psychological stress and self-rated quality of life of respondents per socioeconomic earning category due to impact of COVID-19.DATA AVAILABLITY STATEMENT : The data used in this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.The COVID-19 disease has infected many countries, causing generalized impacts on different income categories. We carried out a survey among households (n = 412) representing different income groups in Nigeria. We used validated food insecurity experience and socio-psychologic tools. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The earning capacities of the respondents ranged from 145 USD/month for low-income earners to 1945 USD/month for high-income earners. A total of 173 households (42%) ran out of food during the COVID-19 pandemic. All categories of households experienced increasing dependency on the general public and a perception of increasing insecurity, with the high-income earners experiencing the greatest shift. In addition, increasing levels of anger and irritation were experienced among all categories. Of the socio-demographic variables, only gender, educational level of the household head, work hours per day, and family income based on society class were associated (p < 0.05) with food security and hunger due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although psychological stress was observed to be greater in the low-income earning group, household heads with medium and high family income were more likely to have satisfactory experiences regarding food security and hunger. It is recommended that socio-economic groups should be mapped and support systems should target each group to provide the needed support in terms of health, social, economic, and mental wellness.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerphVeterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-02:Zero HungerSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Nutrition outcomes of under-five children of smallholder farm households: do higher commercialization levels leads to better nutritional status?

The  study  investigated  the  nutritional  status  of  under-five  children  of  farm  households.  The  study  utilized  primary  data  from  352  farm  households  with  140  underf ive  children.  Household  crop  commercialization  index  (CCI)  was  used  to  estimate cassava  farm  household  crop  sale  ratio  and  categorize  the  households  into  four commercialization  levels  while  WHO  Anthro  software  was  employed  to  analyze under-five  children  anthropometric  indices  such  as  weight-for-age  z-score  (WAZ), height-for-age  z-score  (HAZ)  and  weight-for-height  z-score  (WHZ).  Logit  regression  model  (LRM)  was  used  to  examine  the  drivers  of  under-five  children’s  nutritional  status  of  farm  households.  The  study  found  that  42.9%,  7.9%  and  3.6%  of the  children  are  stunted,  underweight  and  wasted  respectively.  The  highest  stunting  level  was  recorded  in  zero  level  households  (CCI  1).  Although,  some  higher CCI  households  (medium-high  and  very-high  level)  recorded  increased  percent  of stunted  children.  This  revealed  that  being  a  member  of  low  or  high-level  commercialization  households  may  not  guarantee  better  nutritional  status  of  young  children of  farm  households.  The  results  of  LRM  indicated  that  the  predictors  of  children  nutritional  status  were  child’s  age,  farm  size,  access  to  electricity,  healthcare  and  commercialization  variables.  Moreover,  weak  positive  and  negative  relationships  exist between  CCI  and  children’s  nutrition  outcomes  as  measured  by  the  z-scores.  The study  recommended  maternal  nutrition-sensitive  education  intervention  that  can  improve  nutrition  knowledge  of  mothers  and  provision  of  infrastructure  that  enhance increased  farm  production  and  promote  healthy  living  among  farm  households.</p