International Journal of Intellectual Discourse

Investigating the influence of employee engagement on customer satisfaction in digital banking: A systematic review

G. Chinyerem Adeniji, Favour Chisom Nwafor, Oluwakemi Onayemi — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid expansion of digital banking has reshaped service delivery, yet existing research has emphasised technological determinants of customer satisfaction while paying less attention to employees. This systematic review examines the influence of employee engagement on customer satisfaction in digital banking, synthesising evidence from contemporary literature.
Guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework, a systematic search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, and SpringerLink for studies published between January 2015 and April 2026. Following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 51 peer-reviewed studies were selected and analysed thematically. The review identifies seven major themes: employee engagement dimensions, customer satisfaction determinants, technology versus human interaction, employee engagement and service quality, the influence of engagement on satisfaction, challenges in digital banking, and future research trends. Employee engagement remains a critical driver of customer satisfaction despite increasing automation, chiefly through its effect on service quality, CRM effectiveness, and discretionary employee behaviours. Digital technologies enhance efficiency but do not replace engaged employees in managing complex, trust-based, and emotionally sensitive interactions. The review highlights theoretical, methodological, and geographical gaps and proposes directions for future research, concluding that employee engagement should be treated as a strategic capability that complements digital transformation and strengthens customer satisfaction and competitive performance in banking.

Marketing productivity metrics and financial performance: A systematic review with implications for Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises

Rowland Worlu, Kofoworola Victoria Adegbuyi — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the relationship between marketing productivity metrics and firm financial performance, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Guided by the PRISMA framework, the study undertakes a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2019 and 2025 and retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Following a structured screening and eligibility assessment process, 28 studies were included and analysed using thematic synthesis. The findings indicate that key marketing productivity metrics, including Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI), Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), are positively associated with financial performance. However, the relationship is largely indirect, operating through enhanced marketing efficiency, marketing effectiveness, analytics capability, and data-driven decision-making. The review further shows that organisations adopting integrated marketing measurement systems achieve superior performance outcomes compared with those relying on isolated metrics. Despite these benefits, adoption among SMEs in emerging economies remains constrained by limited analytical capabilities, inadequate technological infrastructure, and low data literacy. The study contributes to Marketing Accountability Theory by demonstrating how marketing measurement and analytics support organisational value creation. It also offers practical recommendations and a phased framework to guide SME adoption of marketing productivity metrics in emerging
market contexts.

Effects of Insecurity on Agropreneurship Performance in Katsina State: Strategies for Survival

Abubakar Saddiq Yusuf — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the effects of insecurity (cattle rustling and kidnapping) on Agropreneurship (livestock farming and crop production) in Katsina State; Strategies for survival. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of all 750 small scale farmers that are registered with Farmers’ Cooperative Association and a sample size of 254 farmers was determined using Krejcie and Morgan formula. Multiple regression technique was employed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v.22) and SmartPLS-4 were used to analyze the data collected. The result shows that cattle rustling and kidnapping have significant and negative effects on livestock production in Katsina state. Also, the result indicated that cattle rustling and kidnapping has a negative and significant effect on crop production in Katsina state. The study therefore, recommends that Agropreneurs need to adopt online marketing means to sell their products. This will go a long way in reducing the threat of insecurities in their lives and products.

The role of agricultural financing and food security on economic growth in Nigeria

Adebimpe Oke Margaret, Amamizo Ogunnubi Hezekiah — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper looks at the implications of agricultural financing, food security and Nigeria’s economic growth. Scope of the study was from 1981 to 2024 while the data was sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)Statistical bulletin 2024 and World Development Indicators (WDI). Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) was used to run the regression. The variables used in the study includes the food production index, credit to agriculture, agricultural output, inflation rate, interest rate and gross capital formation. The results showed that agricultural financing and food security had a positive impact on the economic growth at the short run and a negative impact in the long run and the recommendations is for the government to fund the Nigerian agricultural sector, insecurity must be reduced in order to facilitate food security and exchanged rate must be well managed to facilitate agricultural productivity in the economy.

Analysis of the responses and challenges against regional multilateral mechanisms in combating the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in West Africa

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

West African region has been bedeviled by incessant and persistent armed violence, which perpetrated mainly by small arms and light weapons as instruments of choice. This resulted in human security crisis, which necessitates multilateral efforts towards containing the crisis, however, the problem persists. This paper examines the trend and nature of small arms and light weapons proliferation in West African, and explores the regional mechanisms adopted in controlling the menace and the challenges been encountered in their implementation. The paper utilizes documentary research as its methodology, and adopts the complex
interdependence theory as its theoretical framework. The paper discovers that SALW proliferation in the West African region has assumed worrisome dimension, and given the enormity of their indiscriminate spread and misuse by the various armed groups, have resulted in perpetrating heinous crimes and unleashing violence in the region, the magnitude of which creates serious humanitarian and economic challenges more than what one nation in the region can contain. The paper also discovers that West African region adopts two strategic multilateral mechanisms namely: The ECOWAS Moratorium and the ECOWAS Convention in
addressing the challenges of SALW proliferation, however, after two decades the problem escalates and persists. Thus, the paper concludes that the failure of the multilateral efforts to control the proliferation and misuse of SALW is the reason behind the escalation and persistence of the crises as evidenced in the rise of terrorism and Insurgency, transnational crimes, armed banditry, particularly in the half a decade. Hence, the paper recommends the effective review of the multilateral mechanisms to accommodate the current challenges, also member states in ECOWAS region should renew its political commitments to ensure the effective control of the SALW proliferation. There should also be wider public enlightenment campaigns to educate the citizens of ECOWAS region about these multilateral instruments and mechanisms, so as to enable them make their positive contributions toward achieving the desired goals.

Cultivating an Engaged Workforce: The Interplay of Mentorship, Technical Skill Development, and Learning Flexibility

Hezekiah O. Falola , Miracle E. Sunny-Ekanem — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Employee engagement remains one of the most persistent challenges facing modern organizations: industry surveys consistently report that less than a third of employees are actively engaged in their work. This study examined the joint influence of three organizational levers on employee engagement — mentorship quality, technical skill development, and learning flexibility (i.e., the autonomy employees are given over when, how, and what they learn) — within a first-stage moderated mediation framework. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 250 full-time employees drawn, via stratified convenience sampling, from five functional departments of a mid-sized organization (68% response rate among 368 employees invited). The proposed model was estimated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4, with 5,000 bootstrap resamples used to generate bias corrected and accelerated (BCa) 95% confidence intervals. The measurement model showed adequate convergent validity (all outer loadings > .78, AVE > .67, composite reliability > .89) and discriminant validity (HTMT < .48 for all construct pairs). All path coefficients reported below are standardized (β). Mentorship quality was significantly and positively related to employee engagement, both as a total effect (β = .27, SE = .06, 95% CI [.15, .39], p < .001) and, to a smaller degree, as a direct effect controlling for technical skill development (β = .17, SE = .06, 95% CI [.05, .29], p = .005), consistent with partial mediation. Technical skill development significantly mediated the mentorship–engagement relationship (indirect effect = .106, 95% CI [.058, .166]). Learning flexibility showed a significant main effect on technical skill development (β = .12, SE = .06, 95% CI [.00, .24], p = .044), but its interaction with mentorship quality was only marginally significant (β = .13, SE = .07, 95% CI [-.01, .27], p = .061), and the formal index of moderated mediation was not statistically significant (index = .049, 95% CI [-.002, .105]), although conditional indirect effects were significant and numerically larger at higher levels of learning flexibility. Because the design is cross-sectional and relies on single-source self-report data, these findings are interpreted as associational rather than causal. The results support mentorship and perceived technical skill growth as robust, complementary correlates of engagement, while suggesting that learning flexibility’s moderating role warrants further investigation with larger and more heterogeneous samples.
Implications for the design of learning and development (L&D) programs and for future PLS SEM-based workforce research are discussed.

Moderating effect of Entrepreneurial Orientation on the Relationship between Strategic Marketing Innovation and Sustainable Competitive Advantage of SMEs in Northwest Nigeria

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The primary aim of this study is to investigate how strategic marketing innovation influences the sustainable competitive advantage of SMEs in Northwest Nigeria, with a focus on the moderating effect of entrepreneurial orientation. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design with data collected at a single point in time. The population of the study consists of 4661 registered SMEs in Northwest Nigeria. A sample size of 368 SMEs was used to represent the entire population, through Yamane formula. The results suggest that only two of the three strategic market innovation measures (i.e. distribution innovation and product innovation) have positive effect on SMEs sustainable competitive advantage, while price innovation has insignificant effect on SMEs sustainable competitive advantage. Furthermore, entrepreneurial orientation has a positive significant effect on SMEs sustainable competitive advantage. Accordingly, the present study demonstrates that entrepreneurial orientation hasmoderating effect on the relationship between strategic market innovation (i.e. price innovation) and SMEs sustainable competitive advantage. It is therefore recommended that the managers need to be well orientated in anticipating and addressing customer needs and
preferences while reviewing and implementing their innovative price.

Decoupling Economic Growth from Fossil Fuel Dependence: Assessing the Asymmetric Impact of Price Deregulation on Renewable Energy Substitution in Nigeria.

Elizabeth Taiwo Oluwabunmi , Peter Adamu, Wasiu Oyeniran, Salihu Ayodeji — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the asymmetric impact of fossil fuel price deregulation on renewable energy substitution in Nigeria, evaluating whether escalating retail pump prices serve as a catalyst for clean technology adoption or exacerbate structural energy poverty. Utilizing quarterly time-series data 2004Q1-2025Q4 , the empirical framework models the interactive dynamics between disaggregated Premium Motor Spirit retail pump prices (PMSP+, PMSP-), real per capita income (PCRGDP), nominal foreign exchange rates (EXR), national electricity grid generation (ELEC), and renewable energy capital imports (REN). Employing a Non Linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) bounds testing approach, the empirical results confirm a robust long-run cointegrating relationship . Formal Wald test restrictions fail to reject symmetry in the short run and show only weak long-run price asymmetry indicating that while fuel price shocks drive overall energy adjustments, short-run substitution mechanisms respond largely symmetrically alongside severe macroeconomic bottlenecks. While positive long-run price shocks exhibit a positive elasticity, immediate clean energy substitution is severely constrained by foreign exchange devaluation pass-through (EXR) and real income limitations (PCRGDP). Furthermore, persistent public utility grid failure forces commercial enterprises into involuntary generator reliance. To resolve this "Energy Transition Paradox," this study recommends that fiscal savings realized from fuel subsidy removal be recycled into targeted import tariff waivers, zero-rated VAT schemes, and concessional foreign
exchange allocation for imported off-grid renewable energy hardware.

Digital Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurial Resilience, Psychological Capital and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Sunusi Shuaibu, Buhari Shehu, Abubakar Ibrahim Sadiq — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the effect of digital financial literacy, entrepreneurial resilience, and psychological capital on the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Jigawa State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 400 owners and managers of SMEs, drawn from a population of 13,912 registered enterprises using the Taro Yamane (1967) formula and a simple random sampling technique. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of Smart PLS 4 software. The
finding of the study shows that Digital financial literacy, entrepreneurial resilience and psychological capital each had a positive and statistically significant effect on SME performance, with psychological capital emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by
entrepreneurial resilience and digital financial literacy. The study concludes that the psychological and behavioral capabilities of entrepreneurs are at least as consequential as their digital financial skills in shaping business performance in Jigawa State, and recommends that government agencies, financial institutions, and SME development organizations design integrated capacity-building programmes that combine digital financial training with resilience-building and psychological capital development for SME owners.

Social Juvenization of Poverty as a Precursor to Internet Fraud among Juveniles: a study of Abraka, Delta State

Udi Ehwekeraye Anthonia — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study explores social juvenization of poverty as a precursor to juvenile involvement in internet fraud within Abraka community, Delta State, Nigeria. As poverty becomes increasingly concentrated among younger populations, many juveniles in Abraka face economic hardships, social exclusion, and limited opportunities for education and employment. These conditions
create a conducive environment for internet fraud, as young people seek alternative means of survival. The research adopts the quantitative method approach using survey method. The sample of 395 was obtained from the population of the study. Purposive sampling method was used to select the respondents that participated in the survey. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Simple Linear Regression was used to analyse the hypotheses formulated for the study. Findings indicate that poverty, compounded by lack of quality education and economic opportunities significantly influences the involvement of juveniles in internet-related criminal activities. The study recommends comprehensive intervention strategies, including investment in education, economic empowerment programmess, andcommunity support initiatives, to address the root causes of poverty and create sustainable alternatives for youths. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics
between socio-economic conditions and juvenile delinquency in the digital age.

Value Reorientation and Nigerian National Development: The role of transformational leadership. A conceptual framework

Abdulsalam Abubakar, Nura Adamu — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Nigeria's quest for development has remained largely unattained despite sixty five years of independence. This paper presents a conceptual analysis, based on a narrative review of the literature rather than primary empirical data, of the role of value reorientation in promoting Nigeria's national development, arguing specifically that transformational leadership moderates this relationship by determining whether reorientation efforts translate into measurable developmental outcomes or remain superficial. Nigeria's developmental crisis is linked in the literature to moral decline, corruption, weak institutions, and poor leadership orientation. Anchored on Transformational Leadership Theory and Modernization Theory, the paper develops a framework connecting value reorientation to national development dimensions such as economic growth, social cohesion, political stability, and human capital development. Drawing on a narrative review of the conceptual and empirical literature, the
paper argues that without leaders who model integrity, inspire innovation, and mobilize collective action, value reorientation efforts remain superficial and short lived, as evidenced by the limited and uneven success of Nigeria's past reorientation campaigns. The paper concludes that transformational leadership enhances the developmental effectiveness of value reorientation by promoting ethical conduct, shared vision, and citizen engagement, and it recommends embedding transformational leadership principles across governance, education, and civic institutions alongside sustained value reorientation initiatives.

Availability and Utilization of School Library Facilities as Predictors of Academic Performance among Secondary School Students in Edo North Senatorial District, Nigeria

Sanni Asemhokhai ASEMHE — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study investigated the availability and utilization of school library facilities as predictors of academic performance among secondary school students in Edo North Senatorial District, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions and one null hypothesis. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 26,371 students who registered for the 2022/2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in public secondary schools in Edo North Senatorial District. Using the Taro Yamane sample-size determination formula, a sample of 394 students was selected through a multistage sampling procedure involving proportionate and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using the Availability and Utilization of Library Facilities Checklist (AUTILFAC) and Students’ Academic Performance Inventory (SAPI). Students’ academic performance was measured using their verified 2022/2023 WASSCE results in English Language and Mathematics. The data were analysed using percentages and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis (MLRA) at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that the availability of library facilities in English Language and Mathematics was low, while the
utilization of the available library facilities was high. The regression analysis further showed that availability and utilization of library facilities made a statistically significant contribution to the prediction of students’ academic performance in English Language and Mathematics at the 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that
government and relevant education authorities should conduct periodic assessments of library facility needs and prioritize the provision, replacement and upgrading of relevant facilities in public secondary schools, particularly those supporting teaching and learning in English Language and Mathematics.

Examining How Green Finance and Investments Drive Sustainable Performance in Nigerian Manufacturing Industries

Yusuf Shehu Ado , Alhassan Haladu — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates how green investment and green finance affect the sustainable business performance of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Using an ex-post facto design, the research analysed secondary data from 35 companies over ten years (2015–2024), totalling 350 firm-year observations. Data came from audited annual reports and sustainability reports. The study analysed descriptive statistics, correlation, Random Effects GLS regression, and Panel Corrected Standard Errors for robustness. The findings reveal that both green investment and green finance have a positive and significant influence on sustainable business performance. Their relative effects vary across estimation methods, indicating that both are important. Manufacturing firms should treat green finance and internal green investment as complementary strategies. Policymakers should develop green finance infrastructure and tighten environmental regulations to encourage sustainable practices. Overall, this paper provides longitudinal evidence from Africa's largest economy, showing that green capital allocations are strategic drivers of sustainability, not unrecoverable costs.

Qualitative Analysis of Sustainable Innovative Performance in Nigerian Tech Startups

Olufunke Patricia ADEBAYO, Mary Adebimpe ODUSELU — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study presents a qualitative, literature-based analysis of sustainable innovative performance in Nigerian tech startups, examining its drivers, constraints, performance implications and ecosystem conditions within a dynamic yet institutionally unstable context. The study synthesises peer-reviewed literature, industry and ecosystem reports, policy documents, and documented secondary case evidence on startups such as Flutterwave, LifeBank, Thrive Agric, RecyclePoints, and Arnergy, using a deductive-inductive thematic analysis guided by the Triple Bottom Line and interpreted through resource-based, dynamic capabilities, and institutional theory perspectives. The synthesis identifies six key drivers of sustainable innovative performance alongside interconnected financial, infrastructural, regulatory, cultural, skills, and ESG-related constraints, and indicates that startups reported in the literature as integrating sustainability into their innovation processes are associated with stronger growth, survival, competitive differentiation, stakeholder trust, and resilience. The study contributes a context-sensitive conceptualisation of sustainable innovative performance and proposes a consolidated conceptual framework that links firm-level
capabilities and ecosystem conditions to multi-dimensional startup performance, providing a foundation for future primary empirical research.

Integrated reporting quality and the value relevance of environmental, social and governance information

Kayode Olushola FASUA — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the value relevance of integrated reporting quality (IRQ) for financialbperformance among listed non-financial firms in Nigeria. IRQ is a composite index combining environmental and social sustainability disclosure (ESGD), corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD), and corporate governance disclosure (CGD), normalised to 0-1 and averaged into one score. Using 31 firms on the Nigerian Exchange Group, 2015-2024 (310 firm-year observations, stratified from 46 firms), the study estimates IRQ’s effect on earnings per share (EPS), controlling for market capitalisation, firm size, profitability, leverage and
growth. EPS, IRQ and market capitalisation are non-stationary in levels but stationary after differencing; the model is estimated on differenced data using Stata-verified panel-corrected standard errors. IRQ shows no significant association with EPS across six specifications (β=1.849, p=0.822 contemporaneously; β=-1.544, p=0.841 with year fixed effects; β=-0.378, p=0.933 lagged; β=1.350, p=0.858 with full controls; β=-0.935, p=0.916 fully combined), nor does market capitalisation in any specification (R²=0.023-0.078). Year effects are significant in 2019, 2022 and 2024, and profitability is significantly positive under PCSE in the full control (p=0.011) and combined models (p=0.026), though not under cluster-robust errors (p=0.388). A Ramsey RESET test on the combined model suggests functional-form misspecification (F=28.76, p<0.0001), and firm size’s differenced series shows an anomalous unit-root result, both reported as limitations. Endogeneity correction is partial: fixed effects and a predetermined regressor address self-selection and reverse causality, but no instrumental-variable or Heckman correction is implemented. The study offers a reproducible IRQ-construction method and cautions against over-interpreting null coefficients.

Organisational Culture as a moderator of employee wellness and productivity among FM Radio employees in Minna

Mahmud Abdullahi, Timothy Nmadu, Shuaibu Adamu — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the critical role of real-time communication, Nigerian broadcasting professionals constantly operate under high-stress environments, leaving a significant empirical gap regarding how workforce well-being and institutional climates concurrently alter performance in localized media sectors. This study adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional design to investigate the relationships between employee wellness, organisational culture, and Organisational productivity among 183 staff across registered FM radio stations in Minna, Niger State. Data collected from a sample of 123 respondents were analysed using PLS-SEM. The results revealed that Employee Wellness (???? = 0.341,???? = 0.003) and Organisational Culture (???? = 0.472,???? = 0.001) both exert significant positive direct effects on Organisational Productivity, collectively explaining 68.9% of its variance (????2 = 0.689). However, their
interactive effect was statistically non-significant (???? = −0.118,???? = 0.131). It is concluded that wellness and culture operate as independent, parallel performance pillars requiring concurrent management to optimize broadcasting efficiency.

Moderating role of trainee motivation on the relationship between trainee ability and transfer of training

Shuaibu Adamu, Timothy Nmadu, Mahmud Abdullahi — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Public healthcare institutions in developing economies face persistent challenges in translating employee professional development into measurable workplace performance due to poor post training skill generalization. Despite significant investments in staff development at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, and Umar Sanda General Hospital, Bida, there remains a
critical gap in understanding how individual capacities and psychological drives interact to ensure that acquired skills successfully "stick" on the hospital floor. The study applied the Baldwin and Ford’s Transfer of Training Model and Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. This study empirically investigated the relationship between Trainee Ability and Transfer of Training, with Trainee Motivation positioned as both a direct predictor and a moderating variable. Using a quantitative survey design, primary data was gathered from healthcare personnel in Bida, Niger State, and analysed using Variance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (VB
SEM) in SmartPLS. The bootstrapping algorithm (5,000 resamples) revealed that Trainee Ability has a significant positive direct effect on Transfer of Training (beta = 0.250, t = 2.521, p = 0.012), while Trainee Motivation emerged as the dominant direct driver (beta = 0.551, t = 5.665, p = 0.000). Furthermore, Trainee Motivation significantly moderated the relationship between Trainee Ability and Transfer of Training via a negative interaction (beta = -0.185, t = 2.695, p = 0.007), demonstrating a non-linear dynamic where personal motivation plays a critical boosting role for lower-ability personnel but tends to level off for highly skilled, expert
staff who rely primarily on standardized professional guidelines. Based on these findings, it is recommended that hospital management utilize pre-training assessments to elevate baseline Trainee Ability while implementing segmented motivational strategies such as direct performance incentives for lower-ability personnel and peer-mentoring roles for high-ability
experts to optimize institutional training investments and public health delivery.

Women’s Participation in Rural Development: Assessing the Community-Based Agriculture and Rural Development Project (CBARDP) in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The participation of women is critical for sustainable agricultural and rural development, but their voices are underrepresented in many African communities. This study examines women’s participation in the Community-Based Agriculture and Rural Development Project (CBARDP) in Bauchi State, Nigeria, concentrating on their personal experiences, problems, and contributions to local development outcomes. Guided by Empowerment Theory, the research adopted a Qualitative approach that included interviews that are semi-structured with 35 respondents comprising ten (10) state CBARDP officials, ten (10) local government officials, and fifteen (15) women beneficiaries. These interviews were complemented by a focus group discussion. Findings reveal that CBARDP significantly enhanced women’s participation in community programmes, improved livelihood opportunities, and strengthened collective decision-making. However, cultural attitudes, gender bias, and low literacy levels continue to impede full inclusion. To promote equitable involvement in rural development projects, the study suggests that culturally sensitive approaches, policy reforms, collaboration between non governmental organizations, public institutions, and traditional institutions are required for long-term women’s empowerment.

Strategic marketing innovation and sustainable competitive Advantage of SMES in Northwest Nigeria: mediating role of Risk taking

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Firms struggle to sustain competitive advantage, and the evidence on how marketing innovation becomes advantage is fragmented, especially for resource-constrained SMEs. The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of strategic marketing innovation (SMI) and sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) of SMEs in Northwest Nigeria: The roles of risk taking. The study adopted a quantitative research design as data were collected at a single point in time. The population of the study consists of the entire 137,648 registered SMEs in Northwest Nigeria. A sample size of 399 SMEs was used to represent the entire population, through Yamane (1973) formula. The results suggest that only two measures of strategic marketing innovation (i.e. product innovation, price innovation) have a positive significant relationship with SMEs’ sustainable competitive advantage in Northwestern Nigeria, while distribution innovation and artificial intelligent innovation shows insignificant effect on SMEs’ sustainable competitive advantage. Risk taking is revealed to also have a positive significant effect on firms’ sustainable competitive advantage. Meanwhile, the study shows that risk taking is the fundamental reason why strategic marketing innovation (i.e. product innovation) have influence on firms’ sustainable competitive advantage in Northwestern Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that the owners/managers of SMEs need to focus on conducting regular risk assessment so as to continue identify potential vulnerabilities of innovative product and addressing customer needs and preferences while reviewing and implementing their innovative distribution channels.

Impact of Armed Banditry on Rural Livelihoods in Kaduna State: A Political and Socio-Economic Analysis

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Armed banditry has emerged as one of the most pressing security challenges affecting rural communities in Northern Nigeria, with Kaduna State recording rising incidents of violent attacks, displacement, and destroyed livelihoods. This study examines armed banditry and rural livelihoods in Kaduna State from a political and socio-economic perspective, anchored on Human Security Theory and Social Disorganization Theory. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with data collected through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 399 respondents, drawn from a population of 150,000 using the Taro Yamane formula, of which 372 were correctly completed and analysed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and simple percentages). Findings show that armed banditry has significantly disrupted agricultural activities, reduced household income, and deepened food insecurity, while weak governance, unemployment, and poverty sustain its persistence.
Communities have responded through migration, informal community policing, and livelihood diversification. The study recommends strengthening rural security through community-based policing and improved intelligence gathering, expanding economic empowerment programmes to address unemployment and poverty, and fostering collaboration among government,
communities, and security agencies to protect rural livelihoods and restore stability in Kaduna State.

Corporate Governance as a Driver of Environmental, Social and Governance Effectiveness in Emerging Markets: A Systematic Review

Ebeguki Igbinoba, Chioma Okonkwo Favour — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the evolving landscape of sustainable finance, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices have shifted from peripheral initiatives to central determinants of corporate value, particularly within emerging markets. While the significance of ESG is widely recognised, its effective implementation remains inconsistent due to institutional voids and varying governance standards in these dynamic economies. This study aims to systematically review the role of corporate governance as a primary driver of ESG effectiveness in emerging markets. It seeks to identify key governance mechanisms such as board composition, ownership structure, and executive oversight that catalyse sustainability outcomes. Using a systematic literature review (SLR) approach, this paper synthesises 70 peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025. Bibliometric analysis of keyword trends (Scopus and web of science) was employed to map the thematic evolution of the field, highlighting a significant peak in
research activity during 2023. The Agency and Stakeholder theories were employed in the research. The findings reveal that board independence, gender diversity, and the presence of dedicated sustainability committees are critical internal drivers of ESG performance. However, the effectiveness of these mechanisms is heavily moderated by the institutional environment. The review identifies a "governance ESG nexus" where digital transformation (AI and blockchain) and external regulatory enforcement act as vital facilitators in mitigating greenwashing and reducing information asymmetry. The study concludes that corporate governance is a context-dependent driver of ESG. Effectiveness in emerging markets requires an "integrative perspective" that aligns internal board oversight with external institutional quality and technological capabilities. This review offers a strategic framework for
policymakers and managers to move beyond symbolic compliance toward substantive sustainability integration.

Entrepreneurial Orientation, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Performance of Women Owned SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

G. Rusibamayila Emmanuel , A. Mbura Sophia — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on the relationships among entrepreneurial orientation (EO), entrepreneurial mindset, and the performance of women owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. PRISMA 2020-guided searches of Google Scholar and SAGE Journals, supplemented by backward and forward citation searching, identified 330 records published between 2020 and 2025. After duplicate removal, screening, eligibility assessment, and reconciliation with the reference list, 58 traceable studies were retained. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted
data, and resolved disagreements by consensus. A structured thematic synthesis coded EO dimensions, mindset constructs, financial and non-financial outcomes, mediators, moderators, and study context. The coding audit showed that 49 of 58 studies (84.5%) reported predominantly positive and statistically significant associations, six (10.3%) reported mixed or insignificant results, and three (5.2%) reported negative associations. Risk-taking produced mixed or context-dependent evidence in 17 studies (29.3%). Innovation capability, entrepreneurial competence, social capital, and internationalization were the most consistently
supported mediating mechanisms, while institutional quality, informality, gender norms, access to finance, networks, sector, and digital adoption shaped the strength of observed relationships. The review contributes an integrated, gender-sensitive framework that links firm-level EO, individual-level entrepreneurial mindset, capability-building mechanisms, and contextual conditions. It identifies priorities for longitudinal, comparative, and mixed-method research.

Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation in Nigeria (a study of Tuyil pharmaceuticals industry LTD., Ilorin)

Surajudeen Ishola SANUSI, Muibat Opeyemi ABDULLAHI — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

High rate of unemployment in Nigeria has made it somewhat difficult for people to live above board. Poverty, income inequality, and high dependency propensity have necessitated the study on entrepreneurship development. In spite of the strategic usefulness of medium and large enterprises to nations’ economic viability and job creation, some still contend with meeting
performance targets. This advances the need to comprehend the basic entrepreneurship dimensions that directly result in success. This study examined the influence of entrepreneurship development on employment generation taking Tuyil Pharmaceuticals Industry Ltd. As a case. The precise objectives were to: examine the impact of innovativeness on skill acquisition and investigate the influence of risk taking on economic empowerment. An aggregate of 279 copies of questions were sent out of which 263 were adequately responded to, and duly returned which made the response rate to be 94%. The hypotheses formulated
were tested using regression method of analysis with the help of SPSS (Version 23). The findings abundantly showed; innovativeness has a significant effect on skill acquisition with R2 value of 0.748 whereas risk taking influences wealth creation with R2 value of 0.755. The studymalso revealed that a unit increase in process innovation and anticipation of future demand
when other factors are held constant will affect the business positively. Hence, it was concluded that entrepreneurship development has significant effect on job creation/poverty alleviation since the variables under study are statistically significant with one another. Therefore it was recommended that entrepreneurs should be willing and able to innovate and take risks so as to
allow for effective employees’ remuneration and skill acquisition.