International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies

Increase in losses borne by banks as a result of inadequate operational risk management practices and the adverse impact on banks’ financial performance has been a major concern to bank management and regulators. This study analysed the impact of operational risk management practices on the financial performance of commercial banks in Nigeria. 10-years (2008 - 2017) secondary data extracted from audited financial statements of selected commercial banks in Nigeria was used for the study. The data was analysed using the Linear Multiple Regression Model. The results showed that there is a positive relationship between operational risk management and the financial performance of banks. The findings revealed that sound operational risk management practices impact positively on the financial performance of banks. We, therefore, recommend that banks’ management should deploy adequate resources towards understanding operational risk to ensure sound operational risk management and improved financial performance of banks.

The presence of contradictory theories and unpredictable empirics calls for this paper to survey the outcome of board traits on financial operation of Nigeria banks. Financial performance of a firm is as important as the firm. Yet, very few studies have examined its impact by the board of directors in Nigeria. Data were obtained and perused using descriptive and inferential figures. Findings show that size of board has significant and constructive bearing on business piece. However, board composition takes undesirable significance. Meetings of board and gender failed to show significance. But, board member nationality and firm size show negative and significant effects. We added by exploring impacts of boards on financial performance. We asked firms to increase the size of the board and engage more independent directors and reduce the number of board diligence and size of the firm. The strong plus impact of board size and firm size on financial operations is an interesting result allowing for additional interrogation of why these behaviours.

This study investigates how the development of human capital is related to economic growth in Nigeria from 1980 to 2015. Data were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Bureau of Statistics. The study employed Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) to estimate the relationship among the variables used in this study which revealed that there is a positive long-run relationship among public expenditure on education and health, total school enrolment, gross capital formation, employment rate, life expectancy rate and economic growth. The study recommended that the government should put in place the required education and training policy that would guarantee quality schooling for different level of education. Government should also commit more funds to health sector to enhance human capital formation. It was also recommended there should be more pragmatic means to develop human capabilities.

This paper examines the Nigerian economy and the tendency for its growth in the face of several socio-political challenges facing the country, which have hampered the rate of economic development in spite of the tremendous human and material resources inherent. The paper identifies the socio-political challenges to include corruption, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, politics and governance, among others. The central argument of the paper is that steady economic growth can be achieved and financial crisis mitigated in Nigeria, if the effects of socio-political challenges, which are the key factors that have contributed to the high poverty, unemployment and economic instability in the country, are minimised. To ensure economic growth and move the country forward politically and economically, government must be more accountable in managing the nation’s resources in order to avoid wastage, poverty and unemployment. Close attention should be given to those socio-political challenges in the formulation of policies that aimed at maintaining economic growth at a level commensurate with the country’s growth rate. This study put forward that government must be proactive in all issues relating to the socio-political challenges to prevent resource mismanagement, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and slow economic growth in future.

The study contributes to the literature on propane's prospects and viability for off-grid energy, implications for stakeholders, and alignment with sustainable energy goal 7. It examines the prospects of propane-powered off-grid electricity in the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI). The study assessed propane’s economic viability and environmental implications as a replacement for diesel (AGO). Specifically, the analyses included comparative levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), net present value (NPV) modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, and carbon emissions estimation. The study found that the cost of energy from diesel (AGO) is 1.52 to 2.86 times of grid MYTO tariffs and 1.84 to 3.92 times of the MYTO tariffs for All-in LCOE. The average total LCOEs were 1.01 to 1.63 times for the commercial bank and 1.02 to 1.63 times for the residential estate. The LCOEs for the AGO generators ranged from $0.183 to $0.286 (fuel only) and $0.335 to $0.392 per kWh all-in. These comparative LCOEs are between 110% and 263.8% of the electricity tariff averages in the US (residential: $0.155/kWh and commercial: $0.127/kWh) and the UK (£0.245/kWh) and, accordingly, confirm the expensive nature of AGO-based electricity in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study found that propane-based off-grid energy is a viable substitute for AGO and cheaper than the current Band A tariff of N206.80KWh, with savings between 10.52% and 45.25%. The study also shows that propane is a cleaner and more efficient source of energy that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 13.8% and as high as 31.1% depending on the generator-load match efficiency with the associated monetized savings between $9.18 and $20.62 per MT CO2e. The study recommends government incentives and private sector investments towards adopting propane for off-grid electricity, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving Nigeria’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) plan, and promoting sustainable development.  

This paper aims to develop a conceptual and measurement framework for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure quality in Nigerian banks. It also aims to demonstrate how ESG disclosure quality can be distinguished from ESG disclosure quantity, ESG performance, ESG practices, ESG ratings and sustainability reporting. We employed a conceptual review and framework development approach by synthesising stakeholder theory, institutional theory, Nigerian sustainable banking regulation, international sustainability reporting standards and related banking literature. The materials analysed include the CBN Sustainable Banking Principles, SEC Sustainable Financial Principles, NGX Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines, Nigeria’s IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards adoption roadmap, IFRS S1/S2, GRI, TCFD, PCAF, the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision and literature on ESG disclosure, banking risk, financial stability and disclosure quality. The main findings of the study demonstrate that: (i) ESG disclosure quality is a distinct construct; and (ii) bank ESG disclosure quality should be assessed across environmental, social and governance dimensions. The paper proposes the ESG Disclosure Quality Index framework which provides a graded 0–5 scoring scale and three empirical model specifications for future panel data studies. The framework provides a basis for assessing ESG disclosure quality and examining its relationship with bank-level outcomes in Nigeria and comparable emerging market banking systems.               

The study investigated the challenges confronting preparation of financial report of selected state governments in Southwestern Nigeria. Financial reporting in the Nigerian public sector is marred by a host of challenges that hinder transparency, accountability and effective governance. The study used a descriptive survey research design and primary data were collected from three states of Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun through structured questionnaires. The target population consisted of the Office of the Accountant General and the Office of the Auditor General within government departments. The total population of the study was 763 individuals, including 276 participants in Ondo State, 256 participants in Ekiti State and 231 participants in Ogun State. The sample size was 262 participants, selected using the Taro Yamane formula. The online survey was completed with 100% validity and a reliability test coefficient of 0.929 using Cronbach's alpha statistics. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study examined the lack of technical expertise, inadequate accounting systems, complex regulatory environment, transparency and accountability concerns, inadequate funding and political interference. To address these challenges, it was recommended that Nigeria must invest in capacity-building, modernize its technology infrastructure, establish effective regulatory mechanisms, enhance transparency measures, allocate adequate resources and safeguard financial reporting from political interference. By doing so, Nigeria can pave the way for accurate, credible financial reporting, fostering trust, good governance and economic development. 

Trade liberalization is a widely accepted policy for fostering economic growth, particularly in developing countries. Advocates argue that open economies, through increased competition, specialization, and access to global markets, outperform closed economies. However, the short-term effects on developing economies like Nigeria remain debated, especially within the manufacturing sector. Nigeria's trade policy has fluctuated between protectionism and openness, significantly influencing its manufacturing performance. Critics, drawing from dependency theory, argue that liberalization exposes weaker economies to exploitation by stronger nations, leading to trade imbalances and inhibiting industrial growth. This study investigates the nonlinear effects of trade liberalization on Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, addressing a gap in the literature by employing a quadratic approach to determine threshold effects. By incorporating a quadratic form of the trade variable, the study tests the hypothesis that trade liberalization initially boosts the manufacturing sector but results in diminishing returns as openness intensifies. The research is framed within the Laffer Curve of Trade, suggesting that beyond a certain threshold, excessive openness may harm the manufacturing sector. The AutoRegressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model is used to assess both short-run and long-run effects, with findings indicating a convex relationship between trade liberalization and manufacturing output, highlighting the critical importance of identifying optimal policy thresholds to maximize industrial growth. 

The study contributes to the literature on propane's prospects and viability for off-grid energy, implications for stakeholders, and alignment with sustainable energy goal 7. It examines the prospects of propane-powered off-grid electricity in the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI). The study assessed propane’s economic viability and environmental implications as a replacement for diesel (AGO). Specifically, the analyses included comparative levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), net present value (NPV) modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, and carbon emissions estimation. The study found that the cost of energy from diesel (AGO) is 1.52 to 2.86 times of grid MYTO tariffs and 1.84 to 3.92 times of the MYTO tariffs for All-in LCOE. The average total LCOEs were 1.01 to 1.63 times for the commercial bank and 1.02 to 1.63 times for the residential estate. The LCOEs for the AGO generators ranged from $0.183 to $0.286 (fuel only) and $0.335 to $0.392 per kWh all-in. These comparative LCOEs are between 110% and 263.8% of the electricity tariff averages in the US (residential: $0.155/kWh and commercial: $0.127/kWh) and the UK (£0.245/kWh) and, accordingly, confirm the expensive nature of AGO-based electricity in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study found that propane-based off-grid energy is a viable substitute for AGO and cheaper than the current Band A tariff of N206.80KWh, with savings between 10.52% and 45.25%. The study also shows that propane is a cleaner and more efficient source of energy that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 13.8% and as high as 31.1% depending on the generator-load match efficiency with the associated monetized savings between $9.18 and $20.62 per MT CO2e. The study recommends government incentives and private sector investments towards adopting propane for off-grid electricity, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving Nigeria’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) plan, and promoting sustainable development.  

This research work examines the impacts of foreign aids and human capital on economic growth of African oil and non-oil producing countries. Adopting the time series data from 2000 to 2021, the study employs Westerlund Error Correction Based panel cointegration test to investigate the impacts of Physical Capital (FA, GCF, FDI), Human Capital (EDU, HLT) and Policy Variables (REV, EXR) on Gross Domestic Product growth rate (GDPgr). Findings from results of the study affirms that there is a long-term co-movement between the GDPgr and the explanatory variables (FA, GCF, FDI, EDU, HLT, REV, EXR) of both African oil and non-oil producing countries. The study also reveals that foreign aids are better effectively put into use in the African non-oil producing countries than in the oil producing countries. Findings in the study equally confirm that financial resources in the African non-oil producing countries are better efficiently spent on human capital and domestic investment than in the African oil producing countries. The study further shows that revenue generation and foreign exchange earnings stimulate growth better in the African oil producing countries than the non-oil countries counterparts in Africa.