Digital Banking Innovations: An Imperative for Operational Efficiency in Listed Nigerian Deposit Money Banks (Published)
The growing use of digital platforms in banking has greatly changed the way services are provided in Nigeria. There are still differences in how these innovations do, however, perform in terms of operations. The impact of digital banking innovations on operational efficiency of listed Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria (2010-2024) was studied. The study used an ex-post facto type of research design and secondary data was obtained from the annual reports of the 14 listed banks. Digital banking innovations were proxied by Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and Electronic Mobile Banking (EMB) transactions, while operational efficiency was measured by Non-Performing Loans (NPL) and Liquidity Ratio (LR) was used as a control variable. Data was analysed using correlation and panel regression. The results revealed that ATM had positive but insignificant relationship with NPL, whereas electronic mobile banking transactions had negative but insignificant relationship with NPL. Liquidity ratio had a positive and insignificant effect on the operational efficiency. The study finds that digital banking innovations and liquidity management can affect the operational performance, but do not have a significant impact to the extent that the study suggests on the loan performance of listed Nigerian deposit money banks. The study suggests that financial institutions should invest more in their ATM and mobile banking systems, encourage digital banking adoption, strengthen credit risk management, and ensure proper liquidity management to boost efficiency and reduce financial risks
Keywords: Nigerian Banks, Operational Efficiency, automated teller machines (ATM), digital banking innovations, electronic mobile banking (EMB)
The Moderating Effect of Business Growth On Financial Inclusion and Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises in North Central Nigeria (Published)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are pivotal to economic development in Nigeria, yet their sustainability is often constrained by limited access to formal financial services. While financial inclusion is widely promoted as a catalyst for SME resilience, empirical evidence on its effectiveness remains inconsistent, suggesting the influence of contingent factors. This study addresses a critical gap by investigating whether business growth moderates the relationship between financial inclusion and SME operational efficiency—a key indicator of sustainability—in North Central Nigeria. Employing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected via structured questionnaires from a stratified sample of 399 SMEs across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory. The constructs of financial inclusion were operationalized through six dimensions: Affordable Banking Services, Banking Diversity, Consumer Protection, Financial Literacy, Inclusive Credit Scoring, and Insurance Uptake. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with ADANCO software to test direct and moderating effects. The results reveal that Banking Diversity (β = 0.518, p < 0.01) and Business Growth (β = 0.435, p < 0.01) have significant positive direct effects on Operational Efficiency. Conversely, Financial Literacy, Inclusive Credit Scoring, and Insurance Uptake showed non-significant or negative direct relationships. Crucially, the moderation analysis indicates that Business Growth significantly enhances the positive effects of Consumer Protection (β = 0.090, p < 0.05) and Insurance Uptake (β = 0.124, p < 0.05) on Operational Efficiency. However, it does not strengthen, and in some cases diminishes, the influence of other financial inclusion dimensions. The model explains 78% of the variance in Operational Efficiency (R² = 0.780). The study concludes that the impact of financial inclusion on SME sustainability is not uniform but is critically shaped by a firm’s growth trajectory. Policies that treat SMEs as a homogenous group are likely to be ineffective. The findings advocate for a differentiated, growth-sensitive approach to financial inclusion, prioritizing diverse banking services, robust consumer protection, and tailored insurance products to support scalable SMEs in achieving long-term sustainability
Keywords: Business Growth, Financial Inclusion, Operational Efficiency, SME sustainability, moderating effect, north central Nigeria, structural equation modelling
Workplace Management and Organizational Productivity Among Aluminum Manufacturing Firms in Anambra State Nigeria (Published)
This study investigates the influence of workplace management on organizational productivity among aluminum manufacturing firms in Anambra State, Nigeria. The research focuses on the effects of resource management, employee training, and inventory planning on operational efficiency and normative commitment. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from a sample of 359 employees selected via stratified random sampling. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a moderate to strong positive relationship between resource management and operational efficiency (r = 0.62, p = 0.0001), indicating that effective resource allocation enhances productivity. Additionally, employee training was positively correlated with normative commitment (r = 0.54, p = 0.001), suggesting that training programs significantly increase employee loyalty. Furthermore, inventory planning showed a moderate positive impact on operational efficiency (r = 0.57, p = 0.0001), highlighting its role in minimizing production disruptions and ensuring resource availability. These findings underscore the importance of strategic workplace management in optimizing productivity and employee commitment. Recommendations include adopting advanced resource management systems, investing in regular employee training, and implementing efficient inventory planning tools to sustain competitive advantage.
Keywords: Normative Commitment, Operational Efficiency, employee training, inventory planning, resource management, workplace management