Search results

Although the overall impacts of innovation and innovative practices have been emphasized in recent years, the effect on the growth of firms in Nigeria have not been proven. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of innovative practices on the growth of quantity surveying firms (QSFs) in Nigeria.

The study adopted the quantitative correlational research design in which a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from QSFs in South-West, Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to investigate the effect of innovative practices on the growth of QSFs.

The study reveals that there is a significant increase in the growth indices used for assessing QSFs, while all the innovation variables were found to be reliable. Based on the result of multiple regression analysis, the relationships were identified as follows: quantity surveying (QS) software influenced the size growth of QSFs; QS software and services affected client growth and profit growth; and all innovation practices impacted asset growth of QSFs.

Although the use of software tools has been found to negatively affect the size of QSFs and other growth indices, there is need for them to embrace innovative software applications for more quality service delivery. In addition, QSFs should formulate strategic objectives that will guide them in taking informed decisions for diversification.

The outcome of this study provides information and direction for innovation practices required to bring about the growth of QSFs.

This paper aims to present the summary of the training workshop on “How to write publishable papers by Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals” organized by the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Ogun State Chapter on 25 May 2006 at Simeon Adebo Library, Kuto, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

This paper begins by looking into why LIS professionals have to publish in professional journals and then examines factors responsible for manuscript rejection by editors of such journals. Other areas covered include the role of mentoring librarians to publish.

The main objective of the workshop is to train as well as provide useable guidelines to assist LIS authors in writing publishable manuscripts which they will submit for consideration and publication in professional journals. One of the most significant current discussions in the field of library and information science (LIS) profession is the perception of poor quality in manuscripts submitted for publication by librarians.

Hints for structuring a more nurturing environment for improving writing and perfecting manuscript preparation in the field of Library and Information Science.

The paper makes recommendations on improving the overall quality of manuscripts written by LIS professionals.

This paper discusses the problems of managing an acquisition windfall in a Nigerian university library after over a decade of acquisition drought brought about as a result of a serious downturn in the economy. The windfall, which came in the form of a World Bank $120 million facility to 20 federally owned Nigerian universities for the purchase of books, journals, library and laboratory equipment as well as staff training and expatriate supplementation, drastically changed acquisition patterns and rates in the affected university libraries. The responses by the library of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, to the challenges of involving the faculty in the book selection processes, ensuring balance, processing the orders and receiving the materials into the library are highlighted. Post World Bank faculty prospects of Nigerian university libraries are also explored.

Discusses a recent amendment in Nigerian universities’ law that changed the appointments of university librarians, registrars and bursars from tenured to non‐tenured. Appointments to these posts which were formerly until retirement at 65 are now for a fixed period of five years in the first instance, renewable for another term of five years at the pleasure of the governing councils and no longer. The background to this development is given and its implications for leadership motivation, continuity of policy, issues of orderly succession and the fate of the former incumbents are explored. It concludes that in the present Nigerian context, the merit of the new order far out‐weighs its demerits in terms of the much desired attainment of full academic status for librarians and leadership motivation. However, care has to be taken to ensure the future of the former incumbents within the organisations if they are to perform selflessly during their limited tenure.

Describes the new library building of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, completed in 1992. Gives a brief history of the existing library as background. Highlights the planning processes involved, including critical choices made, location of the building, preparation of architects′ briefs, architect‐librarian relationship, choice of building contractors and features of the building. Discusses problems of supervision, security and maintenance likely to arise from the use of the building. Concludes that the library building meets the required functional and aesthetical standards required of libraries in the tropics and should be critically studied by other Nigerian universities planning to put up their own libraries.

This study aims to examine the effect of staff seminars on the publications productivity of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in academic libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria.

To elicit the necessary information, a two‐part questionnaire was sent to 41 LIS professionals in the seven academic libraries in Ogun state during the 2002/2003 session. Of this number, 34 (82.3 percent) were returned and found usable.

Analysis of the returned questionnaires showed that the majority of respondents' libraries hold seminars, though only occasionally (70.8 percent). Participation is largely restricted to academic librarians (62.5 percent), although some libraries (37.5 percent) allowed participation by their para‐professional staff. While presentation of papers is largely optional (66.7 percent), some libraries (33.3 percent) made it obligatory for their staff. Most of the respondents were of the opinion that staff seminars positively affected their publication output in terms of quality and quantity. A total of 66 out of the total of 79 manuscripts submitted for publication after they have been criticized by their peers at seminars were published. This constitutes 83.5 percent success. The study recommends that staff seminars should be taken more seriously in university libraries so as to improve on the quality and increase the publication output of librarians as well as to justify their academic status.

This study provides useful information for those interested in the effect of staff seminars on the publications productivity of LIS professionals in academic libraries.

This study explores the extent of environmental management and reporting regulations in Nigeria, highlighting areas of inadequacies in regulatory enforcement and companies’ compliance. We approach the review within the context of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (SDA).

This chapter is based on a systematic review of extant environmental regulations and academic literature.

The results show several inadequacies with respect to Nigeria’s environmental management and reporting regulations. We specifically note the changing environmental management and reporting landscape in Nigeria birthing several emerging mandatory reporting codes. We find that fragmented reporting regulations and inappropriate sanctions are responsible for the unsatisfactory compliance and disclosure level noted among firms in the country. Additionally, weak enforcement, funding limitations, unrealistic financial penalties, and general implementation deficits remain factors impeding effective environmental management practice in Nigeria.

This research provides insight into environmental management and reporting inadequacies in Nigeria, and the actions regulators and firm managers need to take on board to help the country actualize the UN 2030 SDA.

This issue is a selected bibliography covering the subject of leadership.

This chapter investigates the relevance of sustainability accounting practice (SAP) in the actualisation of the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030. Whilst the SDGs appear general, broad and far-reaching, the sustainable development agenda (SDA) impliedly places responsibilities on member nations to evolve strategies that will ensure the achievement of the SDGs in their respective countries in accordance with national circumstances and peculiar challenges. This brings to bear the need to consider measures to translate the SDGs to realities, especially in developing countries. We use a structured questionnaire to collect data on the application of SAP from publicly listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Secondary data on economic performance were obtained from the annual reports of companies for 5 years (2014–2018). Structural Equation Modelling and Mann-Whitney test were applied to analyse data. Result suggests that whilst the implementation level of SAP by companies is generally moderate, internalities/‘pull factors’ such as market orientation and deliberate strategy formulation significantly determine the sophistication level of SAP. The insignificant effect of the externalities/‘push factors’ (i.e. environmental uncertainty, structure of ownership and control, and intensity of competition) on SAP suggests that external pressure on companies to implement sustainability initiatives is weak. We also find that extensive usage of SAP can sustain economic performance in the long run. The chapter provides empirical evidence that manufacturing companies extensively implementing SATs can sustain economic performance and would likely have enough economic resources to implement some initiatives that are fundamental to the actualisation of the SDGs 2030. The chapter contributes to the sparse literature on sustainability practice in developing countries, and incrementally adds to knowledge on the factors driving SAP in a jurisdiction characterised by lax regulatory framework and weak institutional apparatus on sustainability. As evident in our findings, SAP engenders sustainable economic performance.

This study aims to ascertain gender differences in librarians’ publication output in Nigerian university libraries; to spotlight the benefits librarians derive from publication, and to identify the problems encountered by librarians in their publication efforts.

The study employed a descriptive survey method supported by a questionnaire. The population of the study consisted of a focus group made up of a total number of 55 academic librarians from five university libraries in Edo and Delta States. The researchers also engaged both male and female academics in the various institutions using a semi‐structured interview.

It was revealed that male librarians publish more than their female counterparts. The interview responses also revealed that female academics noted family responsibilities as a major factor hindering them from publishing equally as their male counterparts. It was discovered that male and female librarians in the university libraries investigated publish their works mostly in the African continent, and enumerated promotion/career advancement, contribution to knowledge, personal and institutional prestige as the major benefits librarians derive from publication.

It is hoped that the study will help librarians to see the advantages in publishing in order to improve promotion prospects and advance in their careers. The findings of the study will also be useful in making library management and the university authorities aware of the need to enable improved conditions to support research and publication by librarians.