PROPOSALS ON SELECTED TOPICS FOR OUR RESEARCH GROUP
- The Future of the Nigerian Economy in the Face of Rapid Growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- Implementing the Cashless Policy through Integrated Marketing Communications in Nigeria
- Exploring Tourism Opportunities and Potentials for Nigerian Economic Growth
- Internal Control System in Nigerian Organizations: An Imperative for Sustainability
THE FUTURE OF THE NIGERIAN BUSINESS ECONOMY IN THE FACE OF RAPID GROWTH IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
The major challenge facing businesses today is no longer establishing new ones but surviving in the face of stiff competition. Very vital to business operations is the speed at which information flows from one end to another within the business sphere. Internal and external stakeholders must maintain contact among themselves for continuity in business to be ensued. Information and communications Technology (ICT) therefore, can be said to be the main driver of every business economy. Many businesses have failed because of insufficient flow of information between customers and organizations. Several enterprises operate in isolation without a proper link between them and their stakeholders. The typical Nigerian business does not maintain a database where customers’ profile can be adequately kept, updated when necessary , and customer relationship maintained. Yet, these activities are a common practice in developed countries which accounts for the reason why they are ahead of Nigerian businesses in so many ways.
It is very obvious that although Nigeria is improving technologically, yet, the rate of growth in advancement is still very low. This study sparks up a concern to business experts as to what the future of the Nigerian business economy holds in the face of rapid advancement in ICT, considering the fact that other foreign counterparts are adapting faster than we are doing at the moment. Does the future hold positive results for us, or do we see Nigerian businesses failing more as a result of its inability to keep up with the fast pace at which ICT is advancing in the world today?
IMPLEMENTING THE CASHLESS POLICY THROUGH INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS(IMCs) IN NIGERIA
Policy implementation has been the bane to Nigeria’s development in so many circumstances. Over the years, it has been discovered that government and business leaders initiate policies sound enough to make the country experience a remarkable leap from the level of underdeveloped/developing to that of a developed country. However, hardly had most policies been initiated than they had failed as a result of poor implementation. One thing that most policy makers have failed to realize is that executing a policy is highly dependent on the extent to which the people concerned are carried along. Sometimes, people do not really understand why they should accept a particular transformation or why they should be a part of an economic change. This is simply because the policy makers have undermined the importance of Marketing Communications. Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) which involves the design and dissemination of messages to the same audience through different means, without any form of distortion would go a long way to emphasise why a particular economic change is necessary. And since the messages are targeted at them consistently in ways that appeal to them, it generates a favourable response towards such policy.
The issue of executing the cashless policy has been on the minds of Nigerian economists for quite some time. Why is that some people have not heard about it at all for the first time? Some who have heard of it do not really know what it is all about, while others who have some knowledge about it keep receiving distorted messages about the concept from different groups at different times, thereby weakening the impact. This study aims at presenting how adopting Integrated Marketing Communications (IMCs) can help in reaching out to the public thus, implementing the cashless policy on the Nigerian business economy.
EXPLORING TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIALS FOR NIGERIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH
Nigeria has long dwelt in the valley of under-development. For the past fifty four years, the country has depended so much on foreign goods and services such that our national income has suffered so much deficit. The problem began when the agricultural sector was abandoned for the’ black gold’ – oil. Efforts to restore the country back to that state of self- sufficiency as it were during the time of rich agricultural exports and high national revenue and foreign exchange have all been met with disappointment. One of Nigeria’s major problem is that we fail to appreciate what we have but rather, keep striving to possess what our foreign counterparts have. The economies of these foreign countries are where they are today because they used their resources to develop themselves. Nigeria can also do likewise by using what it has to get what it wants.
Several parts in Nigeria are endowed with some resources that if exploited and developed would generate high revenue, thus, leading to national economic growth. This study therefore explores some of the tourism opportunities in the country and their potentials for achieving the long anticipated economic growth and development.
INTERNAL CONTROL SYTEM IN NIGERIAN ORGANIZATIONS: AN IMPERATIVE FOR SUSTAINABILITY
This research seeks to evaluate the internal control system, organizational risk management process and organizational governance process in some Nigerian companies (not quoted on the Nigerian stock exchange).
Proper adherence to internal control principles is an imperative for the sustainability of any organization and the economy at large. A sound system of internal control would allow management to stay focused on the pursuit of its objectives while operating within the confines of the relevant law.
Internal control enables an organization to deal more effectively with changing economic and competitive environment, leadership, priorities and evolving business models (Deloach & Thompson, 2014 p21).
Internal control is an integral part of enterprise risk management as the components of enterprise risk management framework encompasses the components of internal control framework. The COSO framework emphasizes that enterprise risk management involves those elements of the management process that enables management to make informed risk based decisions. Strategy, risk management and control are all affected by the board and the management. All organization undertakes risk in the process of achieving its objectives. Therefore it is important that organizations must select appropriate risk responses and controls in other to achieve its objectives within the parameters of its risk appetite set out in its strategic processes.
Governance process is also very fundamental if internal control system must be effective. Management process though not a part of internal control can affect the performance of the organization towards achieving its objectives. For instance, an entity’s weak governance processes for selecting, developing and evaluating board members may limit its ability to provide appropriate oversight of the internal control system. Similarly, an entity with ineffective strategy setting and objective setting processes may be challenged in its ability to achieve poorly specified, unrealistic or unsuitable objective (Deloach & Thompson,2014 p21). A system of internal control can only be as effective as the people responsible for its functioning. Furthermore, if management is able to override controls or people commit collusion, the whole system may fail.
Therefore governance process is a very important aspect in the implementation of an effective internal control system and the success of the organization.
Nigerian economy has grown so vast, businesses have gotten more complex and organizational structures have increased, technology has evolved dramatically and the demands and complexities in law, regulation and standards have increased substantially. Therefore, for the organizations to be sustained in this era and beyond an effective and efficient internal control system that meets international best practices must be adopted.
The proposed topic for this research group is
‘RESEARCHERS FOR CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE BUSINESS CIRCLE’ (RCIBC). This group consists of academics and astute researchers from different disciplines in the business circle. Its focus is on challenging trends and dynamic changes that spring up in the business and economic scenes. The group aims to keep up to date with these trends and by critically analyzing them, present research papers which to a great extent would solve practical problems and enrich existing literatures on the subject in question.
A list of the group members are:
Prof. Ugwuonah G.E. Professor of Marketing/Head of Department
Dr. Ugbam Senior Lecturer/Head of Department (Management)
Dr. Ogbo Ann Senior Lecturer (Management)
Miss Okonkwo Chinwendu Graduate Assistant (Marketing)
Rev. Fr. Dr. Igwe Lecturer I (Management)
Dr. Ima Nnam Bursary Department
Mr. Akwu David Graduate Assistant (Accountancy)
Mr. Onyeke Chibueze Graduate Assistant (Banking and Finance)
Miss Olelewe Chinwe Graduate Assistant (Banking and Finance)
Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) of group members are attached along with the proposal for selected topics.