Journal of Applied Economics, Social Dynamics, and Business

Managers and level of satisfaction of business information by different categories of small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Zaria and Kaduna

2026-04-29T03:31:25+00:00

This study investigated managers and level of satisfaction of business information by different categories of small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Zaria and Kaduna. The research method adopted was the survey method and population consisted of 376 and 370 entrepreneurs in Zaria and Kaduna respectively. Three research questions guided the study. Questionnaires were used for data collection. Percentages were used for data analysis. Results showed that most of the small and medium entrepreneurs are sole traders. Entrepreneurs and sales personnel manage the business information and this has made their level of satisfaction to be low. The study recommended that collaborative efforts be encouraged between Librarians especially those in public libraries, Industrial Development Centres (IDC) to be involved in social entrepreneurship, schools of librarianship should offer practical, goal-oriented courses, awareness campaign should be organized by information scientists. The study concludes that information managers be used to increase the level of business information satisfaction

Microcredit Participation and Welfare Outcomes for Small and Microbusinesses in Ekiti State, Nigeria: Evidence of Users and Non-Users

2026-05-08T02:22:37+00:00

This study investigates the effects of microcredit participation on welfare outcomes of small and micro enterprises (SMEs) in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria. The study used primary data which included 638 respondents who were divided into two groups of 441 microcredit users and 197 non-users. The various statistical methods used in analyzing the factors which affected participation and the resulting economic and social outcomes include descriptive statistics, independent sample mean difference tests through t-test and Mann–Whitney U tests, chi-square tests and logistic regression. Users of microcredit programs showed higher income generation, employment creation, business expansion and access to basic services when compared to non-users. The mean difference tests demonstrate moderate to large effect sizes which exceeded Cohen's d range of 0.42 to 0.73, thus confirming the statistical strength of the differences. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that microcredit participation positively impacts income generation, employment creation, business expansion and access to basic services. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test confirms a good model fit (χ² = 7.82, df = 8, p = 0.55), with the model explaining 75% of variations in welfare outcomes (Nagelkerke R² = 0.75). To enhance its effectiveness, policymakers need to develop strategies which will expand microcredit access while providing financial literacy education and customized support programs that will empower women to manage their funding and build their businesses effectively

Influence of Institutional Quality on the Financial Development and Economic Growth Nexus in Sub-Saharan African Countries

2026-05-09T09:42:03+00:00

In Sub Saharan Africa, the struggle for sustainable economic prosperity still is the challenge of converting financial expansion into sustainable economic prosperity. The banking sector has been expanded, with financial activity following suit, in many countries in the region, but the benefits of growth are not always realized because of poor governance, corruption and weak legal systems. The above implies that financial development is not an isolated process, but also involves the effectiveness of the institutional environment. This study's analysis was based on the augmented Mankiw-Romer-Weil model where the human capital and financial factors were added to the production function. The study employed a 2-step System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach to overcome the endogeneity and unobserved heterogeneity issues faced by twenty Sub-Saharan African countries during the period 2007–2024. To examine the moderating role of institutional quality on finance-growth relationship, multiplicative interaction terms were included. The robust approach to estimating the inequalities was realized by using Random Effects and thorough diagnostic analysis (Bond and Hansen tests) and complex econometric packages were used to estimate the inequalities. The results showed mixed relationship between the variables and weak correlation between financial development indicators, namely FIA (−0.0838), FIE (0.1778) and FMD (−0.0915) with real GDP growth. The Bond (2002) test confirmed that the lagged dependent variable (LDV) had different FE (0.4279) and OLS (−0.6244) estimates, thus supporting the use of the System GMM estimator. The cross-sectional dependence tests were significant, with Pesaran FE and Friedman FE giving a p=0.0000 and 0.0000 respectively. The results of system GMM revealed that FIA had a negative effect on growth (−0.6329; p<0.05) and institutional quality and FIA had a positive effect on growth (0.2182; p<0.01). Model validation was done by diagnostic tests and was validated for model validity with AR(2) (0.074) and Hansen (0.165). The study found that development of financial services without an accompanying strengthening of governance does not seem to have any economic pay-off. Thus, a key priority for policy makers is to bring about institutional changes, particularly in the area of regulatory integrity and corruption control, to enable financial systems to play a role in effectively channeling capital into productive investments

The International Financial Reporting Standard (IRS) and merger and acquisition in Nigeria

2026-05-10T04:47:31+00:00

The study seeks to examine the International Financial Reporting Standard (IRS) and merger and acquisition in Nigeria. The objective of the study is to determine the impact of international accounting standard in merger and acquisition in the development of the Nigerian economy, and investigate the effects of merger and acquisition on the confidence of the serving public, as well examined factors that hinder international accounting practice in merger and acquisition in Nigeria. The Researchers used expo-factor research design to conduct the research involving primary and secondary data collected from the central bank of Nigeria (CBN) 2013/2014 and 2015 to 2022 statistical bulletin. The analysis was presented and analyzed with the aid of students’ T-test statistical tools and regression analysis using SPSS software which yielded a mixed result, with a higher positive result on international financial accounting practice in merger and acquisition. The researchers discovered that the Nigerian Accounting Standards Board have been replaced with the Financial Reporting Council Act 2011, they also discovered that institutions find it difficult to embark on voluntary merger until the CBN recommend for merger and acquisition. The researchers recommends that institutions considering merger should follow the international financial reporting standard (IRS) Banks and institutions should embark on voluntary consolidation instead of waiting for the CBN forced merger and acquisition.

Digitalization and service delivery in state tax administration: evidence from the Anambra state Internal Revenue Service (AIRS)

2026-05-30T04:33:48+00:00

With the rapid advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), modern public organizations globally are shifting from manual operational frameworks to integrated digital systems to optimize administrative efficiency. This study examines the effects of digitalization on service delivery and revenue performance within the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS). Anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the research utilizes a descriptive survey research design, gathering primary data through structured questionnaires from a randomly selected sample of 40 staff members drawn from a total population of 205 operational personnel. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and mean scores) and inferential statistics (correlation and simple regression via SPSS) were employed for data analysis. The empirical findings reveal that digitalization has significantly enhanced service delivery by mitigating bureaucratic bottlenecks, improving data accessibility, and increasing procedural transparency. Furthermore, the introduction of automated processing frameworks, including online tax payment platforms and electronic monitoring tools, has substantially optimized revenue performance by reducing fiscal leakages, curbing manual corrupt practices, and expanding voluntary tax compliance. Despite these advancements, the study identifies critical structural challenges impeding full operational efficiency, notably deficient ICT infrastructure, unstable internet connectivity, and inadequate digital training among administrative staff. Consequently, the study recommends that the Anambra State Government prioritize sustained investments in high-speed digital infrastructure, mandate comprehensive, continuous technical capacity development programs for revenue officers, fortify cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive taxpayer data, and launch widespread public enlightenment campaigns to enhance continuous electronic compliance and civic trust

Challenges faced by single parents in providing care and economic support to their children in Anambra state

2026-05-31T07:03:03+00:00

The complex economic situation in Anambra state is such that single parents encounter serious structural disadvantage as they try to sustain their sole breadwinners' role and face the many demands of child care in their households. In this study, a total of 358 respondents comprising single fathers and mothers of the local government areas of Anambra State were sampled using Taro Yamane formula and multi-stage sampling in the three LGA's and fifteen communities respectively, and were evaluated in the study. A validated and reliable questionnaire (alpha = 0.89) was digitally distributed using Google Form by trained research assistants for data collection. A four-point Likert scale with mean scores and standard deviations was used for statistical processing to make descriptive feedback. In addition, five null hypotheses were tested to establish the statistical differences between the demographic subsets with the help of t-test statistics at a 0.05 level of significance. The results shows that single parents in Anambra State are in very harsh operating conditions with an overall cluster mean of 3.11, which is above the 2.50 value. Some of the biggest stressors are access to childcare, mobility and emotional loneliness. On the other hand, it was not a big challenge for respondents if their child's academic future was concerned. The result shows the inferential findings, which do not indicate any significant differences between gender (t = 0.092, p > 0.05). The null hypothesis is accepted and it is established that the situation of single parents is very similar in every aspect for men and women, across the regional socio-economic context. The study concludes that single parents in Anambra State are burdened with a common tight institutional burden which is likely to undermine the stability of the family. The study calls for the development of targeted interventions by the State Ministry of Social Welfare and local administrative units such as providing subsidised community child care networks, providing economic safety nets at the local level, and conducting public sensitization campaigns to address social stigma and enhance the protective capacity of single-parent families.

Investigating Teachers’ Perceptions and use of Technology in Secondary Schools for business purposes

2026-05-31T07:41:41+00:00

The long-term mismatch between the availability of educational technologies and the appropriate use in classrooms in secondary schools is one of the primary concerns in Anambra State. The perception of teachers, their competences, and institutional constraints persist to express the level of meaningful technology application. This research examined the views of teachers regarding the use of technology in secondary schools in Anambra State. The study was guided by three objectives, three research questions, and three hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was embraced. The sampling population was secondary school teachers, a representative sample of 500 teachers was taken. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data that had been validated by experts in educational technology and measurement and evaluation. Adequate statistical procedures were used to ensure reliability of the instrument. The results showed that teachers were usually positively inclined toward technology integration but showed moderate results regarding actual classroom integration. Poor infrastructure, lack of access to digital technologies, lack of training, and irregular power supply were important constraints that prevented effective integration. Moreover, educators who had attended earlier ICT training had better competence and levels of usage than their counterparts. The statistical analysis indicated that there were significant correlations among the perceptions of the teachers, the availability of the resources, and their teaching practices. The research concluded that teachers have positive intentions towards the integration of technology but systemic and capacity-related issues restrict effective integration. It suggested as well as better teacher training, infrastructure and supportive policies to reinforce technology integration in secondary schools.