UNILAG Journal of Business

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FINANCING: A SHIFT TO CROWDFUNDING AS ENABLER OF STARTUP AND BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY

2025-07-09T10:45:05+00:00

Entrepreneurship remains one of the most studied topics in the literature because of its assumed impact on generating employment, poverty alleviation and contribution to economic growth worldwide. Despite the assumed benefits, access to financial resources continues to be a major factor hampering startups, connectivity of entrepreneurial firms to global networks and competitiveness. The objective of this paper is to explore the role of the crowdfunding financing model, generally viewed as a modern financing option, in startups and venture sustainability. It critically examines whether crowdfunding is a viable alternative to the traditional methods of financing entrepreneurial businesses and its effect on business sustainability. A literature review approach was adopted to identify the effect of two crowdfunding options, crowd-equity and peer-to-peer, on startups and entrepreneurial firms’ sustainability. Findings reveal a positive influence of crowdfunding on financing startups, and on entrepreneurial sustainability as it covers the financing gap of traditional sources such as bank loans, business angels and venture capitalists. The study suggests that there is a need for more emphasis on crowdfunding as a strategic option for promoting and sustaining entrepreneurship. The introduction of regulatory framework aimed at protecting crowd-funders from losing their investments will enhance crowdfunding outcome.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF FINTECH ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA

2025-07-09T10:45:05+00:00

It is important secure the confidence of all stakeholders in any business in order to guarantee the performance and sustainability of enterprises within the context of globalisation and internationalization. These objectives can only be achieved within an organisational culture and environment founded on honesty, transparency, and accountability. A firm whose behaviors are grounded in ethical ideals. This research aims to determine the relationship between corporate governance and sustainable performance in the context of Fintech businesses in Nigeria. A sample of 30 respondents from the Nigerian fintech startup Unified Payments (UP) was selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. The data was examined utilizing descriptive statistics. This study's findings provide novel insights into corporate governance and performance, grounded in the corporate governance architecture of Unified Payments Services Limited. The findings of this study reveal that Board Structure has statistically significant effect on the Financial Performance of fintech firms in Nigeria, since at the overall level, board structure can bring significant effect to the financial performance. Specifically, the major finding show that for Nigeria Fintech companies to be above board, Corporate Governance framework elements like Transparency and Disclosure, Ethics and Compliance as well as Regulatory Framework and Compliance are required to entrench strong ethical practice for all licensed fintech companies.

THE ROLE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN DECISION MAKING: A STUDY OF FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA

2025-07-09T10:45:05+00:00

Emotional intelligence (EI) significantly influences decision-making by allowing individuals to understand and manage their own emotions as well as those of others. This emotional awareness enhances judgment, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and leads to more effective and empathetic decisions in both personal and professional contexts. The objectives of this study are to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence among management on the quality of decisions, strategic decision-making, team performance, and leadership practices. Data for the study were collected using a self-designed questionnaire, developed through an extensive literature review. The questionnaire underwent validation and a pilot test to ensure reliability, which was confirmed to be consistent. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to analyze the collected data. The findings demonstrated a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and the quality of decision-making by managers (r=0.760, p=0.00<0.05). Similarly, a positive and significant relationship was found between emotional intelligence and strategic decision-making by managers (r=0.658, p=0.00<0.05), as well as between emotional intelligence and team performance (r=0.541, p=0.00<0.05). The study recommends that management within the bank prioritize the development of an effective emotional resilience program. This initiative aims to cultivate a healthier and more emotionally intelligent leadership team, ultimately enhancing overall organizational performance.