Volume 10 · Issue 2 — 2025

This study examines the impact of government Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) policies on the performance of SMEs in Oyo State, Nigeria, focusing on business registration reforms, financial accessibility, and taxation. This study addresses a critical gap in research on localised policy implementation by employing institutional theory and the resource-based view to analyse the regulatory effects on SMEs. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys from 450 stratified-randomly selected SMEs with qualitative interviews, evaluated through hierarchical regression and thematic analysis. Key findings reveal that while registration reforms reduced processing times (68% completed within 14 days compared to 42% before the reforms), operational efficiency remained static. Only 18% of respondents secured loans, with rural SMEs disproportionately disadvantaged (7% approved versus 32% for urban SMEs). Tax compliance costs constituted 14.2% of income, whereas 87% of respondents faced unauthorised fees, leading to an 18% decline in productivity. The analysis indicates that current policies inadequately address structural imbalances, disproportionately affecting micro and rural enterprises. Recommendations include structured formalisation initiatives, enhanced financial inclusion, and rigorous actions against exorbitant fees to foster equitable growth of SMEs. 

The paper examines the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resources management (HRM and the need to integrate this vital asset into the workplace to enhance performance of an organization. The 21st century has ushered in continuous change, with artificial intelligence, driving the growth of intangible human capital assets that are often unrecorded in organizational performance measures. The paper explores strategies for developing best-practice approaches to integrating human capital with artificial intelligence within organizations. Human capital is defined as the economic value of employees’ knowledge, skills, and experiences. Today, organizations must learn to categorize AI in workforces. Such change is driving paradigm shifts. It employs descriptive design. Thus, it is exploratory in nature based on extensive review of relevant literature on artificial intelligence, human resources management and human resources accounting. The findings revealed that artificial intelligence is gradually taking over certain areas of human resources management, and most organizations have failed to recognize them in financial statements as required. The paper, therefore, recommends among others that human resources available in the public sector should be rightly assessed and should be further developed as far as organization is concerned. This will help to determine the performance of the organization. Again, AI is redirecting human capital in the organization, so the cost of acquiring artificial intelligence and Human Capital in the organization will reflect us in the financial statement of the organization. Further studies can be empirically done on this topic to establish the relationship between AI and Human Capacity development. 

This study examines the interplay between governance failure in Nigeria, the "Japa Syndrome" (mass emigration), and the Mediterranean migration crisis. It critically analyses how systemic corruption, economic decline, and insecurity drive mass emigration, exposing Nigerian migrants to vulnerabilities such as human trafficking, smuggling, forced labour, arbitrary detentions, criminal violations, and fatal sea crossings. Additionally, it assesses the impact of European migration control measures and explores policy alternatives for safer migration pathways. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, this study integrates primary and secondary data to provide a holistic understanding of the structural drivers of irregular migration. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants based on their expertise, lived experiences, and relevance to migration governance and reintegration. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 50 participants, including key migration governance stakeholders and returned migrants, to explore policy gaps, migrant experiences, and reintegration challenges. A comprehensive document review supplemented these findings. The results highlight that many migrants endure severe exploitation, including human trafficking, sexual abuse, and perilous sea journeys. Smuggling syndicates thrive in transit countries like Libya, where governance instability fosters a black market for human exploitation. Furthermore, restrictive European migration policies often increase risks for migrants rather than providing sustainable solutions. The study highlights the pressing need for governance reforms in Nigeria to address the underlying causes of mass emigration. It advocates for economic stabilisation, enhanced security, and international cooperation to establish safer migration pathways. Without immediate interventions, Nigerian migrants will continue to endure life-threatening dangers in their pursuit of better opportunities abroad.

The hybrid conflict between Russia and Ukraine since 2013 have developed into dangerous global politics. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the politics of Russia towards Ukraine since independence in 1991; and Ukraine’s desire to participate in European Union and NATO organizations. To Russians, Ukraine is a geopolitical misunderstanding, which openly violates concept of “Russkiy Mir” (Russian community). Russia aimed at maintaining its sphere of influence in terms of economy, politics and control over military potentials in the region. A real breakthrough was maiden annexation of Crimea, which resulted in the hybrid war in Ukraine. The research employed qualitative contents analysis method of secondary data using force theory as its framework. The study noted that historical grievances (displacement and exile) were the immediate and remote causes of Russian-Ukrainian Conflict. The findings shows that Russians were fighting a just course. The Conflict was traceable to the Cold War Era, and role politics played for Ukrainian government to participate in NATO, and EU. The New wars, called third wave is dominated by psychological and information-propaganda aspects, as well as guerrilla forces. The study recommends to UN that US should vacate its buffer Zone out of Ukraine, and to caution US about her activities and relations with Ukraine and Russian to avoid total holocaust. 

The continuous effort to develop a better and more efficient way of service delivery has led to the introduction of digital technologies in the public sector; this, in turn, has transformed various parts of the modern sector, playing a pivotal role in the socio-economic growth of African nations. This has made it imperative to study the phenomenon of technology adoption on service delivery in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The objective of this study is to examine the effects and challenges of technology adoption on service delivery at Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State. The study employs an exploratory and descriptive research design, utilising both primary and secondary data. Using Institutional theory, it argues that an organisation adopts certain structures and practices to gain legitimacy. From a total population of 953, which comprised both the administrative staff (446) and academic staff (507) of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, a sample size of 281 was drawn using Taro Yamane’s formula at a 5%level of significance. The study discovered that digital technologies have streamlined administrative processes, workflow, and this has led to staff efficiency. The study also revealed that digital systems have improved communication between the students and the staff in the institution. The study recommended that the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro should introduce digital innovation training through external exposures, qualitative workshop and seminar to equip staff on the uses of digital tools. It is concluded among others, the need to address the challenges of resistance to change among staff, cyber security and privacy risk so as to embrace the new development to foster the mindset that prioritize efficiency, timeliness and quality service delivery in Nigeria tertiary institutions.  

This study investigates the benefits of interagency cooperation between the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Private Security Organisations (PSOs) in addressing Nigeria’s complicated security challenges. The research aims to evaluate the benefits of such cooperation, explore institutional arrangements necessary for collaboration, and identify challenges hindering these partnerships. This study bridges a significant research gap by applying the Collaborative Theory and Rational Choice Theory to the Nigerian security landscape, offering a novel perspective on enhancing interagency collaboration. The study employed an exploratory research design, focusing on in-depth interviews with 45 purposively selected participants, including NSCDC personnel and representatives from six private security organisations in Lagos and Ibadan. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through content analysis, enabling a comprehensive exploration of participants' experiences and perspectives. Key findings reveal that interagency cooperation enhances intelligence sharing, resource pooling, and specialization, which are critical for effective crime prevention. However, systemic barriers such as resource constraints, regulatory gaps, trust deficits, and cultural differences significantly impede collaboration. The study concludes that fostering effective partnerships requires well-structured institutional arrangements, including role clarity, joint training programs, and standardized frameworks. To address these challenges, the study recommends prioritizing trust-building initiatives, enhancing resource-sharing mechanisms, and developing inclusive policies that involve private security organisations in decision-making processes. By aligning incentives and creating a foundation of trust and mutual respect, both entities can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s security architecture. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by providing actionable insights into interagency collaboration in developing countries. It underscores the importance of leveraging complementary strengths and aligning organisational incentives to create a cohesive and resilient security framework. 

The re-launch of Digital Financial inclusion in 2012 by the central bank of Nigeria has made Nigerian banks to embrace several innovative ideas towards providing better quality services to their customers. These innovations are expected to impact on the performance of the banks as suggested by theoretical literature. This study is therefore conducted to provide some empirical explanation on the impact of Digital Financial inclusion instruments on performance of Nigerian banks. Data were collected from World Bank database, Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, and annual reports of deposit money banks. The data were analysed with Fixed Effect Regression Model. The Regression analysis was conducted after conducting the Breusch-Pagan Lagragian Multiplier (BP-LM) test to determine the suitability of either the fixed effect or random effect model. The findings revealed positive and significant impact of Automated Teller Machines, Bank embranchment, and point of sale terminals on bank performance at both 1% and 5% levels of significance. However, the result on the number of bank account is not significant. The study concludes that improvement in the quality of financial services will attract more customers to the bank and boost their performance. It is thus recommended that more ATMs, POS and Branches be put in place for better inclusive finance. 

Human Capital Management (HCM) transcends the individual organizations such that its impact dictates the pace of the development in the community, society and over all universe. The implication of aggregate collaborative effort in Human Capital Management (HCM) development can be felt in the whole world such as it happened with the industrial revolution and consequently the abrogation of slave trade and ownership. Such are the impact and space the Human Capital Management (HCM) occupies on the developmental space. The study examines how Human Capital Management (HCM) can be a driver of Organizational Growth and to what extent Human Capital Management (HCM) can be a driver of Organizational development. The study adopted quantitative method in this research. It employs five multinational companies as its population using historical development in Nigeria, the firms are UAC, NESTLE, CADBURY, UNILEVER and PZ. The historical survey of the company and information from annual report books from 2005 to 2024 were taken and used for this study. The annual turnover of each company was used as the representative of multinational corporations (MNCs) and was regressed against annual payment in wages to measure Human Capital contribution to Organization growth. Also, the net profit of the firms over the years were correlated against remuneration earned as a measure of Human Capital contribution to Organization development. The two hypotheses were tested using regression analysis for the first hypotheses and Spearman Correlation for the second hypotheses. The period of twenty years space investigated reveals and supports the view that Human Capital Management is a driver of Organization growth and development. It was discovered that collaborative effort toward human capital management do bring about overall development in society.  Historical development indicated continuous growth hand in hand with the advancement in human capital management and overall living conditions in the world. The overall improved standard of living globally has shown human capital management to be driver of both organization growth and organization development. 

Good governance is the backbone of any thriving community. Eti-Osa Local Government Area is a significant administrative and economic hub in Lagos State, with a diverse population and a range of economic activities. This study explores the leadership challenges and strategies for effective governance in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria. The paper adopted a qualitative research approach such as interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) using content analysis to interpret data. The study identifies key challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, security concerns, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. The findings highlight the importance of community engagement, capacity building, and strategic planning in promoting effective governance. 

Work performance has been observed to be a significant determinant of organizational achievements. Despite factors known to affect work performance, such as gender and health status, little research has been done on digital technology and its influence on menopause, andropause, and work performance. This study, therefore, investigates the effect of technology use on reducing the impact of menopause and andropause on work performance among employees in selected tertiary institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Through a mixedmethods approach, data were gathered from 210 randomly selected staff aged 40–60 via structured questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews, which were analysed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data collected were analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed challenges in both genders, including fatigue, hot flashes, and decreased energy levels during the transition. Women undergoing menopause reported performance below expectations, while men undergoing andropause noted a decline in physical health. However, respondents generally disagreed that this transition has a negative impact on work performance. Coping strategies included physical exercise, medical advice, and counselling. Breaking the barriers of taboos, misinformation, negative stereotypes, cultural beliefs, and doubts surrounding this physiological period, digitalization has helped reduce stress by providing solutions ranging from wearable, mobile apps to virtual care. These findings contribute to understanding the development of gender-specific technology and the complexities of work performance during the menopausal and andropause transition and highlight the need for organizational support for affected employees. Future research could explore coping strategies with digital technology during this transitional period.