The most appropriate survival strategy for small businesses is to pursue the growth objective. Our study seeks to investigate the presence or otherwise of a relationship between financial literacy and small business growth. Our findings reveal that entrepreneurs with a high level of financial literacy are more likely to succeed at growing their businesses when compared to entrepreneurs with a lower level of financial literacy. Hence, financial knowledge, financial behaviour and financial attitude are important assets for growing small businesses. We recommend a concentration of efforts on the human capital development of entrepreneurs to ensure the survival and growth of small businesses in Nigeria.

Harmonization of the accounting practice has long been on the front burner as an agenda for improving the quality of financial reporting the world over. This study is a qualitative review of the Full cost (FC) and Successful efforts (SE) methods of accounting in the oil and gas sector, given the ongoing controversy over which method should take precedence. A unique analysis was adopted by assessing the merits and demerits of the FC and SE methods based on selected qualitative criteria (conceptual, IASB framework and industry-specific). The study found significant differences between the two methods and argues that the SE method produces better qualitative financial information than the FC method based on the IASB framework criteria. The study also found low-risk exposure in Nigeria for investors in the oil and gas industry as a majority of the oil and gas firms operate within the downstream sector. Further research is required to determine the long-run impact of the choice between FC and SE on the performance of oil and gas firms.

Extracurricular activities (ECA), though prevalent in educational institutions globally, remain controversial in the research arena. This study investigates the relationship between ECA and academic performance. Using data obtained from questionnaires on students’ level of participation in ECA and CGPA data from the Department of Accounting, University of Jos, Nigeria; the study found a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between academic performance and political, religious & sport related ECA’s. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression technique was the analysis tool adopted in the investigation, which was carried out on a sample of 225 students. The findings of this study are expected to aid education administrators, regulators, counsellors and other stakeholders; especially at the university level; in setting appropriate goals for student learning and development.

Investigations into the relationship between capital structure and firm performance over the years have consistently produced mixed results in the light of prevailing theories relevant to the concept of capital structure. The study examined the nature of the relationship between the capital structure of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria and the trend of performance recorded in the industry. Leverage was adopted as a surrogate for capital structure, while firm performance was proxied by profit efficiency and return on equity. A regression analysis test was applied to a balanced panel data, pooled from a sample of 11 DMBs to determine the impact of capital structure on performance. The study found evidence that supports a non-monotonic relationship between capital structure and performance of DMBs, as predicted by the agency cost theoretical model. A major recommendation elicited from the findings of the study advocates for legal control on the proportion of debt DMBs can include in their capital structure if they are to operate as efficiently as expected.