Global Journal of Social Sciences

Financial Openness (A Dejure And Defacto Measure) And Economic Growth In Nigeria

2024-08-19T13:02:32+00:00

Economic theory says that financial openness should foster economic growth. In view of this study, this study examined the impact of financial openness on economic growth in Nigeria using annual data for the period 1981 to 2023. The use of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach was used. The study made use of De jure and the De facto as a measure of financial openness and other variables like Foreign Direct Investment, Gross Fixed Capita Formation, Real Interest Rate, Real Effective Exchange Change Rate as the independent variables while Real Gross Domestic Product was employed as the dependent variable. The result of the study show that a 10 per cent increase in financial openness De Jure measure will lead to a 0.16 percent increase in real gross domestic product (RGDP). Also, the value of the coefficients of (0.006583) implies that an increase in balance of payment by 10 per cent will result to an increase in real gross domestic product by 0.07 per cent. The study found out that the variables of financial openness variables are both positively and negatively signed but statistically significant. The study concluded that changes in financial openness affect economic growth. The study shows that a positive relationship exists between market capitalization, De jure financial openness, and economic growth. Based on the results obtained, the study recommended that effective policies should be put in place to control the interest and exchange rate. This is vital because management of financial openness and all international capital flows that will contribute positively to the growth of the economy can only be accomplished by a stable interest and exchange rate. The study further recommend that banks should be encouraged to extend more credit to private sector. But there is a serious need for discipline and discretion in credit allocation by the banks.

Foreign Trade And Economic Growth In Nigeria: A Cointegration Approach

2024-08-20T05:32:57+00:00

The relationship between foreign trade and economic growth is a subject of intense debate among economic researchers and policymakers. This study analyze this relationship in Nigeria using advanced statistical techniques which is the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model bounds test. The study covers the period from 1981 to 2023 and includes pre and post-estimation diagnosis tests to ensure the accuracy of the model. The results indicate the presence of a long-run relationship among foreign trade and economic growth, as confirmed by ARDL bounds test. In the short run, there is a significant association between foreign trade and economic growth. The Granger causality test reveals a bidirectional causality between economic growth and foreign trade. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the Nigerian government needs to moderate its trade policy as the economy seems too weak to absorb the adverse shocks from external trade. Most importantly, the problem that arises from exchange rate should be tackled and put in place to offset the likely negative effects of exposing the economy to external influences.

Hegemony Of The United States And Wars In The Middle East

2024-08-23T15:25:20+00:00

The Middle East is a region of paramount importance in US foreign policy. Consequently, this study endeavors to scrutinize the foreign policy strategies implemented by the US in its dealings with the Middle East and assess whether these strategies contribute to preserving its hegemonic status in the global order. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study heavily relies on secondary data. A comprehensive literature survey forms the basis of information collection, with subsequent analysis conducted within a theoretical framework. The Hegemonic Stability Theory, Realism, Offensive Realism, and Offense-Defense Theory serve as the primary theoretical lenses for data analysis. Notably, the study places a spotlight on US foreign policy towards key Middle Eastern players such as Iran, Iraq, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The findings of the study indicate that US foreign policy strategies vis-à-vis the Middle East effectively serve the purpose of safeguarding its hegemonic position in the global order. However, it is essential to acknowledge that these strategies, while achieving their intended goals, have a detrimental impact on the perception of the US as a benevolent hegemon. The study illuminates the intricate dynamics between power projection and global image management in the realm of international relations, particularly concerning the Middle East.

The Threat And Risk Of Small Arms And Light Weapons Proliferation To The Security Of The Nigerian State

2024-08-21T13:14:35+00:00

The devastation inflicted by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II alerted the world to the threat and risk of humanity being exterminated from the planet's surface by weapons of mass destruction. As a result, numerous organizations, most notably the United Nations, regional groups, and non-state players, have attempted to assure global security. The United Nations formed the International Atomic Energy Agency on July 29, 1957, to combat the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. However, since the conclusion of the Cold War, the world has come to the startling realization that the majority of injuries and deaths documented in internecine wars are caused by Small Arms and Light Weapons rather than weapons of mass devastation. Indeed, current literature demonstrates that, while some research has been conducted on the proliferation of SALWs, nothing has been done on the threat and risk of these weapons' proliferation to Nigerian security. This is the key gap that our study aims to fill. This study employs a qualitative method to data analysis, depends on secondary data sources, and is supported by an argument based on both the realist and liberal theoretical frameworks of analysis. Finally, this article suggests that, while weapons play a key role in exacerbating conflict, resulting in massive human and economic losses, the roots of such conflicts are political, economic, ethnic, and religious imbalances. Lastly, this report discovered that SALWs were never considered strategic to global security or subjected to a systematic traceable transfer process. This was true until the conclusion of the Cold War, when asymmetric conflict in the world's weaker governments threatened to split them apart.

Word Count: 269

Entrepreneurial Competency And Entrepreneurial Success: A Conceptual And Empirical Review

2024-08-20T05:55:29+00:00

Entrepreneurial competency consists of specific skills, knowledge and abilities require by entrepreneur to start and manage an enterprise successfully. It consists of both the technical and management components. The skills and knowledge constitute the technical or the hardware component of entrepreneurial competency while management component could be described as the software aspect of entrepreneurial competency needed by the entrepreneur to function well in hardware functions. To ensure entrepreneurial success, entrepreneur must acquire the needed competencies which could be through training, education or hands-on experience. The purpose of this paper is carry out conceptual and empirical review on entrepreneurial competency and entrepreneurial success to provide a deeper understanding of the concepts and provide research direction to researchers most especially at this time of global inflation when small and medium businesses are finding it difficult to survive. Therefore, the paper provides a detailed review of the concepts of entrepreneurial competency and entrepreneurial success. Also, empirical review on the effect of entrepreneurial competency on entrepreneurial success and four measures of success namely profitability, sales growth, customer satisfaction and competitiveness are presented in this paper. The paper recommends that researchers should focus more attention on studying various dimensions of entrepreneurial competency to examine their effects on both financial and non financial measures of entrepreneurial success.

Influence Of Professional Development On Teachers' Job Or Work Performance In Public Primary Schools In Nakuru County Kenya

2024-09-04T11:32:35+00:00

The effectiveness of school systems and learners' academic performance in Kenya relies heavily on head teachers' instructional leadership practices and teachers' work performance, raising the need for suitable instructional leadership practices to achieve the desired quality of education outlined in Vision 2030 and the fourth Sustainable Development Goal. However, recent reports highlight concerns about teachers' work performance, especially regarding their classroom pedagogical knowledge, skills, and practices. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of provision of professional development opportunities by the head teachers on teachers’ work performance in public primary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The research hypothesis was “Provision of professional development opportunities by the head teachers has no statistically significant influence on teachers’ work performance in public primary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya”. Hallinger and Murphy's (1985) Model of Instructional Leadership and Campbell et al.'s (1993) Theory of Job Performance informed the study. The study employed a mixed methods approach with the convergent parallel design, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 466 respondents in 68 primary schools. The sudy population was divided ino 3 strata, namely pupils, teachers, head teachers, and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs). The sample included 60 pupils, 329 teachers, 68 head teachers, and 9 QASOs. The study samples for head teachers, and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs) were selected using purposive sampling technique, while that of pupils was selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were gathered through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Statistical analyses in SPSS version 25 included descriptive statistics, percentages, Spearman rank correlation, and regression analysis. The results show that the provision of professional development by head teachers had no significant influence on teachers' work performance in public primary schools in Nakuru County.The study concluded that teachers’ work performance was critical for the overall school outcomes. The study recommends that head teachers should implement internal professional development programs, considering key procedures like identifying teachers' training needs for instructional improvement, encouraging in-service training, providing guidance on performance gaps, organizing peer coaching, and promoting further studies for career advancement.

Influence Of Principals’ Students Financial Support Practices On Students’ Retention In Public Day Secondary Schools In Nakuru County

2024-10-30T11:55:06+00:00

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of principals’ students financial support practices on students’ retention in public day secondary schools in Nakuru County. The study was guided by Tintos’ student integration theory. The mixed methods research approach was adopted using the concurrent triangulation research design. The target population was 38,863 comprising of 293 principals, 3962 teachers and 34597 students in public-day secondary schools only and 11 Sub- County Directors of Education. The sample size was 574 participants, comprising of samples of 90 principals 363 teachers, 110 students and 11 SCDE. The sample size of 363 teachers was determined using Slovenes’ formula. Interview schedules were used to collect qualitative data from Sub-County Director of Education while questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from principals and teachers and focus group discussions from students. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive such as frequencies, percentages and means, and inferential statistics which included Pearson Correlation and Regression Analysis. The study findings showed that the principal’s financial management practices had a positive correlation with significant effects on student retention (r= 0.360; p < 0.05). The study recommends that Schools should implement income-generating projects, raise awareness of bursaries and scholarships, and provide flexible payment options to reduce financial barriers and improve student retention. Authorities should promote policies that support financially disadvantaged students by encouraging such initiatives, ensuring access to scholarships, and offering flexible payment options for essential programs.

Effect Of Social Media On Academic Performance Of Entrepreneurial Undergraduates In Rivers State Nigeria

2024-11-19T14:02:31+00:00

This study examined the Effect of social media on the Academic Performance of Entrepreneurial Undergraduates in Rivers State Nigeria. The study was instigated because of unparalleled sensitivity of undergraduates in the use of social media applications has not been properly explored especially in learning and communicating abilities, thereby affecting academic performance among entrepreneurial undergraduates in Rivers-State Universities and persistent rise in unemployment among Rivers-State graduates. To achieve the aims of the study, three research questions were raised and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted the pretest, posttest Quasi-experimental survey design. The study population comprised 200 undergraduates, drawn from a target population of 1,870 undergraduates taking entrepreneurial courses in the 2022/2023 academy session from three public universities in Rivers State University: Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers-State University and University of Port Harcourt, all in Rivers- State, Nigeria. The selection was done through the purposive sampling technique based on functionality and accessibility to smartphones and iPhones on the use of social media (Telegram and WhatsApp) groups while the control group was the discussion method. The instrument used for the data collection was a questionnaire titled: Effect of social media on Academic Performance of Entrepreneurial Undergraduates Questionnaire (ESMAPEUQ), which was developed by the researchers and was validated by experts in Department of Educational Management, University of Calabar and Measurement and Evaluation in the Department of Educational Foundations in Faculty of Educational foundation studies, University of Calabar, Calabar. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25. The results revealed that undergraduates who are exposed to the Experimental group (Telegram and WhatsApp) performed better than those exposed to the control group while there was gender disproportion on the part of the females, indicating that the males performed better than the females in the three groups. It was recommended among others that the use of social media should be a seal in supplemented lessons while gender disportion should be frowned against to give a boost in academic performance, while females should be guided against marginalization in entrepreneurship to create academic stability.

Entrepreneurial Strategies And Development Of Small And Medium Scale Enterprises (Smes)

2024-11-19T14:10:46+00:00

This paper examines today’s dynamic business landscape, the growth and sustainability of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) rely heavily on effective entrepreneurial strategies. Its explores key strategies for SME development, including innovation, market penetration, strategic partnerships, and digital transformation. Thus, the paper discusses the challenges faced by SMEs and proposes actionable solutions to overcome them. By implementing these strategies, SMEs can not only survive but thrive in competitive markets, driving economic growth and fostering innovation. The theoretical framework for entrepreneurial strategies in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) provides a structured approach to understanding how various strategies contribute to the growth and sustainability of these businesses are Resourced Based View and Technology Adoption and Innovation. The methodology adopted for this paper is secondary sources of data in which existing literatures were consulted and inferences were made based on their objectives i.e. the secondary data were sourced for from relevant journal articles, books, publications and the Internet as well as published data from scholarly sources. The paper concluded that entrepreneurial strategies are essential for SMEs seeking to achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness in today's dynamic business environment

Road Safety And Traffic Crash In Rural Communities Of Cross River South Senatorial District Of Nigeria

2024-11-19T14:19:13+00:00

Road safety has been recognized as one of the main pillars of a sustainable transport system. Road traffic injuries are the single biggest source of fatality among children. Awareness of traffic and road safety education and traffic crash in rural communities of southern Cross River State, Nigeria are necessary conditions for curbing incidence of road crashes. The study specifically correlated embedding road safety programme within the school curriculum framework and compulsory attendance of driver training school with road traffic crashes with rural road crashes. It adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches of survey research. Data were obtained from 630 participants and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient. Results revealed existence of significant positive relationship between road safety education programme within the school curriculum and enrollment in driver training school. The study recommended that increasing the awareness and understanding of traffic and road safety practices through education will have an immediate impact on a reduction in traffic related injuries and fatalities in rural communities.

Multiculturalism Contested: Freedom Of Religion, Human Rights And The Changing Narratives Of Public Education In Nigeria

2024-11-19T14:23:46+00:00

The article interrogate and problematise the concept of religion, freedom and human rights in Nigeria’s public education sector which is marked by religious diversity. The paper raises the question of whether multiculturalism can serve as the appropriate means to deal with diversity in a culturally divided federal State like Nigeria with public schools. Through survey and secondary data, the paper examines the different ethno-religious issues that have reinvogorated freedom of religion, human rights and public schools in Nigeria. Through this examination, the paper shows how religious freedoms and rights are enmeshed in a crisis of claims and have affected the expression of human rights, especially on religious symbols and modes of dressing. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the fights over the place of religion in public schools are changing the perception of public education in Nigeria, with a lesson for other African countries with similar religious and ethnic diversity.