Challenges of access to education in the developing world and elsewhere appear to be widespread. Many declarations and conventions have been developed to assist countries to respond to the issue. While challenges of access are universal, Africa in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular are presented with additional concerns about gender equality and gender parity. While learner numbers seem to be on the decline globally, dropout amongst girls is disproportionately greater than amongst boys. Even though school retention presents a challenge at all levels of the schooling system, it is more acute for girls at the secondary school level. This study was conducted to examine and understand factors that shape retention of secondary school female learners in two rural public schools in Alimosho Region of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study design was qualitative and interpretive in nature. Data collection strategies included administered questionnaires in two schools, focus group discussion with twenty female learners in two schools, case studies, individual interviews with four participants from two schools, and observation in English and Biology classes where the two teachers from the two schools participated in the interviews. Ethical clearance from Alimosho Educational Region office and the two schools was obtained before undertaking the study. Participants’ school principals also signed written consent forms before interviews. The female learners were briefed about the study interview activities and advised that their participation was voluntary and that they were free to withdraw at any point. This study drew on Sen’s (1989, 2000) capabilities theory to understand the phenomenon beyond dominant discourses on education that view education as a basic human right or that focus on economic and development gains. The key finding of this study is that in-school and out- of- school factors interact in complex ways to support female learner retention. Key among these are value placed on education by female learners and significant others, particularly parents; family support; and individual aspirations. Extra-curricular participation, government policy, role models, and peer support were also found to be important factors that mediate progression and retention.

The dissertation is focused on exploring the aspects of the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum that shows its individualized nature. The aim of the study was to explore individualized instruction from the view of the ACE program with a view of possible recommendation for use on a wider scale in Nigerian schools. This was considered because of the several lapses identified in the present Nigerian education program. The research explored other teaching and learning methodologies to establish commonality and assess if indeed the programs form of individualization is related to any existing form. Interviews were conducted to get the experiences of students and supervisors who are using the program. Recommendations were made for consideration to the users of the program on the strengths and weaknesses examined and suggestions for possible improvement given based on the responses of the research participants. / M. Ed. (Didactics)

The role of Christian churches in community development cannot be over-emphasised. In the past, Christian churches have played vital roles in community development, both in rural and urban areas. It is in light of this that the researcher views the current situation in Ovia South-West and seeks to determine whether or not this also applies to Ovia South-West. This study is an exploration of the role of Christian churches in community development, with particular reference to the Ovia South-West region of Nigeria. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / The research report provides a credit risk assessment and evaluation of Accion Microfinance Bank Limited (AMFB) for the period 2006 to 2010, using Morgan Stanley’s methodology for analysing the credits and performance ratings of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Since MFIs are set up to provide credit and other financial services to the poor, financially underserviced segment of the society, and since the credit support granted to such micro businesses usually lacks collateral, it is imperative that the management of such credit services be sound in order to mitigate the high risks involved. Thus, credit risk management determines the success and survival of microfinance banks (MFBs): weak credit management leads to capital erosion and eventual failure, whereas sound credit risk management guarantees profitability and sustainability and, hence, the realisation of the objectives of their setup – enhancing the welfare of micro-entrepreneurs. The data for the research report were sourced from AMFB’s financial statements for the years 2006 to 2010 and from interviews that were conducted with principal officials of this MFB. The research found that good regulatory corporate governance and management practices, sound quantitative credit risk assessment and management, and quality and maturity of management lead to low credit risk accompanied by high profitability and sustainability for MFBs. As AMFB matured, the quality of portfolio, profitability, sustainability and operating efficiency were seen to increase. The quality of shareholders, board and management was found to be crucial for the sound management of the MFB. The research report, therefore, recommends regular and continuous credit risk identification, assessment and management, as well as sound corporate governance, if MFBs are to survive and grow and achieve their developmental objectives.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria was investigated. Existing data available in literature was used to analyse trends with regards to FDI and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria over the last 10 years. According to the UNCTAD report (2002) in 1997, FDI in Africa was concentrated on five countries namely, Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Nigeria in the last ten years has consistently outperformed South Africa with regards to the amount of FDI received; yet South Africa outperforms Nigeria on all the competitiveness indices. This has been primarily due to the fact that Nigeria's main source of FDI is the petroleum sector. In Africa 75% of FDI goes into countries endowed with petroleum and mineral resources with very few of these strangling to meet the above list of WAIPA reasons favourable for FDI. The ultimate goal of a nations competitiveness is to increase efficiencies under free and fair market conditions through foreign trade, production and investment. Main results of this study have been the following; • Oil is a major FDI attractor of FDI in Africa, and explains why Nigeria receives more FDI than South Africa. • Although Nigeria does not have a good competitive record relative to South Africa it does however offer competitive fiscal terms to IOC's to explore and exploit the countries abundant petroleum resources. • Oil wealth struggles to filter down to the people of the country, as Nigeria's per capita income remains about fifteen times lower than South Africa's, with its more efficient economy. • This study confirms the fact that many MNC's especially in Africa tend to be driven by resource-seeking opportunities and rather than efficiency seeking opportunities. Unfortunately many of the petroleum exporting countries are unable to use the wealth generated by the petroleum industry to enhance their global competitiveness. The problem is that many countries are not diversified enough and rely extensively on commodities to generate much needed revenue.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / This study examines the default rate and performance of Microfinance bank (MFBs) loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria based on the case study of Accion Microfinance Bank Limited (AMFB), Lagos State. Responses from 150 employees of AMFB revealed that the causes of default rate and performance of SMEs reflect the risk and vulnerability of the SME sector in Nigeria. It further showed that MFBs apply stringent credit criteria in granting loans to SME borrowers, coupled with the existing high cost of funds. The attitude, lack of transparency on the part of SME owners and fund diversion were identified as major factors responsible for the high default rate among SME borrowers. These and other factors warrant the need for further study in the areas of the impact of MFB loans on SME development given the new revised microfinance policy framework in Nigeria.

The overall purpose of this study was to identify the major factors and events that led to the establishment of the Federal Universities of Technology in Nigeria. The study examined and analyzed the growth and development of the three Nigerian Federal Universities of Technology at Owerri, Akure, and Minna.

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement mean test scores in Technical Drawing of students enrolled for the NCE (Technical) program at the College of Science and Technology, Kaduna polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria. Test score means were compared between direct and remedial (preparatory) entry students and secondly among type of high school attended. Data were collected directly from students' permanent records. Two major hypotheses with three sub-hypotheses for each were tested. The first major hypothesis compared direct and remedial entry students. The second major hypothesis compared among three types of high schools attended. The One Way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. The Duncan Multiple Comparison Test was also applied on the second major hypothesis. Both hypotheses I and II were retained at the .05 level of significance. However, hypothesis I was rejected at the .01 level of significance because the remedial entry students were found to have higher mean test scores than the direct entry students. Findings for hypothesis II indicated no significant difference among type of high school attended. It was recommended that selection for admissions for both the remedial and direct enrollments should not be based only on type of high school attended or type of subjects taken; data collected for remediation should bear directly on individuals' academic problems; and aptitude tests should be conducted in addition to transcripts currently demanded.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, 2017 / This research report conducts a critical examination of Ayo Akinfe’s Fuelling the Delta Fires by paying attention to the writer’s use of satire to highlight social problems such as corruption, deception and exploitation in Nigeria. The focus is on how Akinfe’s novel represents exploitation, waste, and excess that have become normative in a country on the brink of collapse. The work also seeks to identify and critique how Akinfe employs satire to interrogate the syndrome of the ‘big-man’ in Nigeria, showing how their actions contribute to social decay and violence. The research will also examine issues of ecology in the Niger Delta. Ecology has often been construed as a Western ideology that has little resonance within the framework of the African novel. However, this work, tries to show that as the scholarship on ecological humanities has evolved over the years, African alternatives which take account of the unique challenges of the continent have also being developed. Akinfe draws from these proposed models of ecology to focus attention on the ecological issues that are a direct outcome of the exploration of oil in the Niger Delta and by so doing, brings attention to the transgressions of government and multinational corporations who go to great lengths to extract oil in the region. Applying ecocritical examples suggested by scholars like Anthony Vital, Byron Caminero-Santangelo and others, the research report demonstrates how literature has been used as a medium to expose greed that facilitates ecological degradations and how the culture of consumerism affect the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Niger Delta. / XL2018

Trade between the United States and Africa decreased 32% from US$125 billion, in 2011, to US$85 billion, in 2013; however, MNCs from other regions have continued to increase investments in Africa. Multinational corporations (MNCs) generate most of their return on investment (ROI) from the Western world. Globalization, increasing middle classes in emerging markets, and decreasing population in the Western world have lead to unsustainable ROI. Nigeria, the most populous and largest economy in Africa and the 27th largest economy in the world, offers new opportunities with an annual growth rate forecast of 6% to 8%. Utilizing the diamond theory of competitive advantage of nations, this single case study was an exploration of the strategies that managers of MNCs have used to optimize Nigeria's higher ROI. Interview questions on new entry challenges, operational obstacles, and strategies to mitigate the challenges contributed to answering the overarching research question related to the strategies that managers of MNCs have used successfully to take advantage of Nigeria's high ROI. The participants were 5 executives at the Nigerian operation of a global technology conglomerate with presence in 166 countries. Data collection included a series of semistructured face-to-face interviews. Data analysis using modified van Kaam method resulted in 5 themes: business environment, effective entry strategies, challenges in Nigeria, mitigating challenges in Nigeria, and volatility of Nigerian market and mitigation strategies. Findings may contribute to ROI optimization and influence social change by providing more jobs, thereby increasing standard of living in Nigeria.