14 research outputs found
Vowel harmony in Gunu
No full textThe vowel harmony systems of the Bantu A.60 languages of Cameroon provide an extraordinary wealth of uncommon properties not yet exploited by linguistic theory. In this paper, the author focuses on one variant of the Yambasa cluster, Gunu A.62a, as described by Ambadian [1990, 1991], Orwig [1989], Quilis et al [1990], and Robinson [1979, 1983]. An analysis of long-distance ATR and rounding harmonies in Gunu is presented in terms of the privative features ATR, Front, Round, and Open. Both the featural representations and their "direct mapping" onto outputs account for the derivational opacity as well as transparency of front vowels to Round harmony
Archaeology and art in context: Excavations at the Gunu site complex, northwest Kimberley, Western Australia
No full textCopyright: 2020 Moore et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The Kimberley region of Western Australia is one of the largest and most diverse rock art provenances in the world, with a complex stylistic sequence spanning at least 16 ka, culminating in the modern art-making of the Wunumbal people. The Gunu Site Complex, in the remote Mitchell River region of the northwest Kimberley, is one of many local expressions of the Kimberley rock art sequence. Here we report excavations at two sites in this complex: Gunu Rock, a sand sheet adjacent to rock art panels; and Gunu Cave, a floor deposit within an extensive rockshelter. Excavations at Gunu Rock provide evidence for two phases of occupation, the first from 7-8 to 2.7 ka, and the second from 1064 cal BP. Excavations at Gunu Rock provide evidence for occupation from the end of the second phase to the recent past. Stone for tools in the early phase were procured from a variety of sources, but quartz crystal reduction dominated the second occupation phase. Small quartz crystals were reduced by freehand percussion to provide small flake tools and blanks for manufacturing small points called nguni by the Wunambal people today. Quartz crystals were prominent in historic ritual practices associated with the Wanjina belief system. Complex methods of making bifacially-thinned and pressure flaked quartzite projectile points emerged after 2.7 ka. Ochre pigments were common in both occupation phases, but evidence for occupation contemporaneous with the putative age of the oldest rock art styles was not discovered in the excavations. Our results show that developing a complete understanding of rock art production and local occupation patterns requires paired excavations inside and outside of the rockshelters that dominate the Kimberley
Effect of income diversification on the financial performance of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria
Get PDFCorporate diversification is a center of research in strategic management and finance. Many firms are experiencing a decline in their traditional activities' dues to environmental challenges, including competition, inadequate infrastructural facilities, and economic instability. The study examines the effect of income diversification on the financial performance of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Specifically, it determines the impact of product income segment diversification and non-product income segment diversification on quoted manufacturing firms' financial performance in Nigerian. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design using secondary data of 42 firms from the 63 quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria for 11 years (2007-2017) period. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is utilized for data analysis. The study found that both product income segment diversification and non-product income segment diversification significantly affect the financial performance (ROA and ROCE variables) of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study concluded that quoted manufacturing firms' financial performance in Nigeria is significantly affected by product income segment diversification and non-product income diversification. The study recommended that manufacturing firms should strategically diversified to increase their income generation in both the product segment and non-product segment to improve their financial performance
Analysis of Investment Decision by Nigerian Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs)
Get PDFDecisions taken by Pension Fund Administrators whether to invest in a particular asset class or not depend upon relative importance of different factors. The relative importance of these factors and the interactions among decisions taken by PFAs has remained unknown to the contributors. Therefore, this study is designed to examine factors affecting investment decision in PFAs. This research work examined the factors that influence investment decisions in Nigerian PFAs. The study also evaluated investment decisions in Nigerian PFAs based on both qualitative and quantitative factors.Primary data were used for this research, which were generated through the use of questionnaire. Simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents from five PFAs in Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using factor analysis.The result of the study indicates that three factors were considered by PFA managers when making investment decisions: Economic, Risk and Security of real estate factors. The study concluded that National Pension Commission should be a bit flexible in its regulatory restriction of investment areas of PFAs to enhance a better investment decision making process. The study therefore, recommended that PFAs should use reward structure to ensure accountability of those that are in charge of investment decision making.Key words: Investment; Decision making; Pension Fund Administrator; Factor analysis; National pension commissio
Entrepreneurship in Underdeveloped Economies: A Study of Nigeria
No full textW artykule zbadano możliwość osiągnięcia wzrostu i rozwoju dzięki przedsiębiorczości w gospodarkach słabo rozwiniętych w kontekście znaczenia przedsiębiorczości dla wzrostu i rozwoju gospodarczego. W szczególności analizie poddano istnienie odpowiednich warunków i zakres, w jakim jednostki i grupy są w stanie rozpoznać/stworzyć możliwości dostarczania towarów i usług, a także stopień, w jakim są one w stanie wykorzystać takie możliwości. W ramach badania zebrano podstawowe dane o środowisku dla rozwoju przedsiębiorczości w Nigerii, zakresie i charakterze tworzonych możliwości oraz perspektywach wprowadzania innowacji w kraju. Dane zebrano od przedsiębiorców i specjalistów ds. przedsiębiorczości przy wykorzystaniu odpowiednio ułożonego kwestionariusza skierowanego do próbki 360 respondentów wybranych spośród grup. Odpowiedzi zostały przeanalizowane za pomocą testu Kruskala Wallisa i testu Wilcoxona dla par obserwacji. Badanie wykazało, że Nigeryjczycy są innowacyjni i przedsiębiorczy, jak również, że źródłami znaczących utrudnień są infrastruktura, finansowanie i edukacja w zakresie przedsiębiorczości. Badanie pokazało, że wzrost przedsiębiorczości wpływa na wzrost gospodarczy w Nigerii, a zatem powolny rozwój przedsiębiorczości w tym kraju przyczynił się do tego, że gospodarka nigeryjska jest słabo rozwinięta. W badaniu wskazano konkretne rozwiązania różnych zidentyfikowanych problemów dotyczących przedsiębiorczości.Against the background of the importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth and development, this paper investigates the potential for achieving growth and development through entrepreneurship in underdeveloped economies. Specifically, the study investigated the availability of the environment for and the extent to which individuals and groups are able to recognize/create opportunity for providing goods and services; and the extent to which they are able to utilize such opportunities. The study collected primary data about the environment for entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, the extent and nature of opportunity creation and the prospect for carrying through innovations in the country. The data were collected from entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship professionals, using a well-structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 360 respondents, drawn from among the groups. The responses were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests. The study revealed that Nigerians are innovative and enterprising. It also revealed that infrastructural facilities, funding, and entrepreneurship education are significant impediments. The study also showed that economic growth in Nigeria is influenced by entrepreneurship growth, therefore the slow growth in entrepreneurship development in Nigeria contributed to the underdeveloped status of the economy. The study recommended specific solutions to the different entrepreneurship problems identified in the study
Corruption and Ease of Doing Business: Evidence from ECOWAS
No full textCorruption has a major impact on growth in low-income economies, while ease of doing business has a major impact on growth in developed countries. The study empirically examines the effect of corruption on ease of doing business. The study analyses unbalanced panel data of corruption rank, corruption score, control of corruption, and inflation, together with other economic and financial institutional factors and ease of doing business score for the period of 2004–2017. Results indicate that: corruption rank, inflation, and import have negative and significant effect on ease of doing business; corruption score, control of corruption, lending rate spread, and education (skill level) have positive and significant effect on ease of doing business; gross capital formation and population have insignificant negative effect on ease of doing business; export and gross domestic product have insignificant positive effect on ease of doing business. The random effect model is a consistent and most efficient model, indicating common mean value for ease of doing business for the dataset. The study recommends improved corruption scores, control of corruption, and ranks to encourage ease of doing business through monetary policy and infrastructural facilities
Entrepreneurship in Underdeveloped Economies: A Study of Nigeria
No full textAgainst the background of the importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth and development, this paper investigates the potential for achieving growth and development through entrepreneurship in underdeveloped economies. Specifically, the study investigated the availability of the environment for and the extent to which individuals and groups are able to recognize/create opportunity for providing goods and services; and the extent to which they are able to utilize such opportunities. The study collected primary data about the environment for entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, the extent and nature of opportunity creation and the prospect for carrying through innovations in the country. The data were collected from entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship professionals, using a well-structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 360 respondents, drawn from among the groups. The responses were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests. The study revealed that Nigerians are innovative and enterprising. It also revealed that infrastructural facilities, funding, and entrepreneurship education are significant impediments. The study also showed that economic growth in Nigeria is influenced by entrepreneurship growth, therefore the slow growth in entrepreneurship development in Nigeria contributed to the underdeveloped status of the economy. The study recommended specific solutions to the different entrepreneurship problems identified in the study
The Effects of Firm Strategic Factors on Manufacturing Companies’ Performance: Evidence from Nigeria
Get PDFThe effects of firms’ strategic factors on strategic choices and performance differentials in Nigerian manufacturing sectors have not been systematically investigated. Against the backdrop of declining manufacturing performance in Nigeria, this paper examined the effects of selected firm strategic factors on the returns on invested capital in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. The study sample consisted of 30 quoted manufacturing firms spread over eight industrial sectors. Data was collected from these 30 firms over a five year period (i.e. 2003 to 2007 and analyzed using a panel regression model. A key finding of the study is firm strategic factors in the study i.e. size, age and capital intensity were heterogeneous and related differently to the performance parameter - return on invested capital. Size had a positive effect on returns on invested capital while age and capital intensity had negative effects. The study concluded that firm strategic factors influenced returns on invested capital differently for manufacturing firms. It was therefore recommended that emphasis on resources and capabilities should be sustained to boost the strategic performance of Nigerian manufacturing sectors.Keywords: Firm Strategic Factors, Manufacturing Companies, Performance, Nigeri
Trust-Building and Consensus Approach to Conflict Resolution: Alternative Tactics to Strike Actions in Nigeria
Get PDFOver the years, industrial actions have been one of the crucial issues resulting to the decline in organizational productivity in Nigeria. Strike actions have been considered by the organized unions as a means of expressing their grievances and struggling for their rights and privileges. These actions have serious and negative effects on organizational efficiencies such as low productivity, loss of profit, low performance, and the eventual collapse of some promising ventures. Owing to these consequences, there is a need for alternative tactics to end this menace. Thus, the influence of trust-building and consensus approach on conflict resolution as alternative strategies to strike actions in Nigeria is examined in this study. The study adopted a survey design. A sample of selected organized labour union leaders and key top executive officers formed the respondents of the study. Cluster and simple sampling techniques were used to select sampled respondents. A validated structured questionnaire and interview were adopted to gather needed information for this study. Ordinary least square regression, correlation, and cross tabulation were used to analyze the collated data. The findings revealed that honesty, loyalty and sacrifice are significant in conflict resolution and crisis management. It was deduced from the study that conflict is unavoidable in a workplace but can be managed through a proactive measure of trust and consensus-building approach. The study recommended among others that keeping to the agreement, openness, understanding, collaborative and participative efforts are needed to enhanced organizational efficiency
Massive Employment Creation through Multi-Stakeholders’ Partnership Approach to Entrepreneurial Initiatives in Nigeria
No full textThe numerous government interventions in entrepreneurship development after independence have not reduced the unemployment rate in Nigeria. Recent public projection of unemployment rate by the federal government in May 2019 from 23.1 per cent to 33.5 per cent by year 2020, has unimaginable consequences. The question then is, what are the governments’ at various levels and their partners not doing right and what changes are needed in the policies, plans and strategies adopted in the past. The main thrust of the paper is to provide an alternative strategy for addressing the problem of unemployment in Nigeria through multi-stakeholder partnership approach to entrepreneurial initiatives for massive job creation. The study has used qualitative design to explain the numerous social intervention programmes adopted by government to reduce the rate of youth unemployment in the country, during military and civilian regimes with reasons why they have not yielded the desired results. The study concluded that the problem of unemployment in Nigeria can be solved with collective adoption of strategic entrepreneurial initiatives of relevant stakeholders: government, professional institutions, academia, financial institutions, industry, not-for-profit organisations, faith based institutions, schools, international donors and the media. The study recommended the joint promotion of entrepreneurial initiatives by all stakeholders as an alternative strategy for achieving the dream of sustainable youth employment creation in Nigeria
