The aim of this paper is to identify the role industrial sector plays in driving the GDP of Nigeria. The paper further seeks to predict the long-run behavioral relationship between industrial production, non-oil exports and economic growth in Nigeria using data from 1970 -2007. Vector Error Correction Mechanism (VECM) was utilized to establish the co-integrating relationship between industrial production, non-oil exports and GDP. The paper reveals the existence of a positive and significant uni-directional relationship that runs from industrial production to non-oil exports. It was further evident in the study that the current policies on industrial production in Nigerian do not sufficiently encourage non-oil export. The paper therefore predicts an imminent collapse of the Nigerian manufacturing industries in the nearest future if immediate remedial measures are not quickly taken to strengthen the ailing industries. The paper among other things encourages the government to strengthen the legislative and supervisory framework of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme in Nigeria.

This study examines if the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) can be applied to the Douala Stock Exchange. The study utilized monthly stock returns from the three companies listed on the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX), for the period 30th April 2009 to 31st August 2017. Ordinary Least Square regression analysis was adopted for the study to examine if individual stocks can predict a better stock beta. The Black, Jensen, and Scholes (1972) CAPM version were also examined in this study to assess the validity of the zero beta estimate. The result of the individual estimates could not establish the validity of the CAPM theory. Further analysis showed that the Beta for the three assets combined portfolio was not statistically significant. However, when two securities were combined into a single asset portfolio, the portfolio bêta was statistically significant. The significant result of the two asset portfolio confirms that Beta was a linear function of security returns in the DSX market. The study concludes that there will be a need for the government of Cameroun to liberalize the DSX market and allow more firms to be quoted on the floor of the exchange. This decision will allow for the deepening of the DSX market, enhance the liquidity level of the market, and enable investors to reap adequate returns from their investment through holding a portfolio of assets.

PurposeThe bedrock of growth in education is at the primary/basic education level, hence there is need to ensure that the populace not only enrolls but complete their education as well as maintain gender balancing. Financial inclusion is essential in achieving financial development which if properly tailored should result in economic growth and development. Education is an important development parameter, therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess if financial inclusiveness enhances primary school enrolment, completion and gender balancing.Design/methodology/approachIn order to ascertain if financial inclusion (financial penetration, access and usage) enhances primary school education (primary school enrolment and completion) and gender balancing (primary school female-to-male ratio), the study employed the vector error correction modeling (VECM) to capture both short- and long-run dynamics of cointegration equations and also, ascertain how the long-run deviations are deemed corrected in the short run.FindingsThe findings of financial inclusion showed a significant positive effect on primary school enrollment but regarding primary school completion rate and female-to-male ratio, the responses to financial inclusion measures showed a completely negative effect. From the foregoing, it is not just sufficient to enroll school children but that they complete their basic primary education, and equally ensure that the males are not favored over the females so as to achieve gender balance literacy in the country.Originality/valueThe study focuses on how financial inclusion engenders admission, graduation and gender balancing in primary school education as the bedrock to formal education in Nigeria.

The paper examined the causal relationship between lease financing and profitability of Nigerian quoted conglomerates for the period spanning 2012-2017. The study focused on 6 conglomerates that are quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at 2017. Data were collated from published accounts of the affected companies. Data were analysed using descriptive and pooled ordinary least square multiple regression statistics. Unit root test was conducted using Augmented Dickey-Fuller. Estimated panel results indicated a negative and insignificant impact of fixed assets turnover on return on assets (ROA), lease financing (LFN) had a positive and insignificant impact on ROA, and long-term debt ratio had a negative and insignificant impact on ROA. Firm size was used to control possible problem of non-linearity and heteroscedasticity. Based on these findings, leasing option was recommended as one of the sources of debt financing to boost the capital of Nigerian conglomerates to enable them to absorb losses, multiply fixed assets and grow continuously, thus providing employment and income in terms of tax revenue, profits, dividends, and wages and salaries to households for national growth and development.