Economics and Social Science Academic Journal

CHALLENGES HINDERING THE UPTAKE OF DIGITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES AMONG MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS IN NIGERIA: INSIGHTS FROM INSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS

2026-04-23T12:41:50+00:00

This study investigates the Challenges to the adoption of digital financial services among marginalized groups in Abuja, Nigeria, with a focus on institutional and socioeconomic factors. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 385 households, complemented by qualitative insights from key informant interviews with policymakers, financial service providers, and community leaders. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression techniques were employed to analyse the determinants of digital finance adoption, access to financial services, employment outcomes, and financial exclusion. The findings reveal that digital financial services significantly enhance financial inclusion and employment prospects among vulnerable households. However, adoption is constrained by limited digital literacy, inadequate digital infrastructure, low income levels, weak institutional trust, and unfavourable regulatory perceptions. While access to internet and mobile networks is relatively widespread, disparities in education, trust, and vulnerability status continue to deepen financial exclusion. The study further shows that regulatory barriers and macroeconomic pressures, such as inflation, exacerbate exclusion risks despite increased digital finance usage. Overall, the results suggest that digital finance is a critical but insufficient tool for addressing financial exclusion without supportive institutional frameworks and socioeconomic interventions. The study concludes that an integrated policy approach combining digital infrastructure development, financial and digital literacy programmes, consumer protection, and targeted poverty alleviation strategies is essential for achieving inclusive and sustainable financial development in Nigeria.

CUSTOMER-CENTRIC SALES STRATEGIES AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AS DETERMINANTS OF BANKING SALES SUCCESS

2026-04-28T10:41:51+00:00

Customer relationships have gained prominence in improving sales outcome in banking industry, as rise in competition coupled with similarity in product and services has reduced dependence on traditional product-driven selling approaches. This study investigated customer-oriented sales strategies and relationship management as determinants of banking sales success. The study aimed to identify customer-centric sales practices adopted by banks, the relationship management practices related to banking performance and how both dimensions contributed to sales outcomes. A systematic literature review using the PRISMA framework was applied which led to the selection and synthesis of twenty-five peer reviewed journal articles. Findings indicated that banks increasingly relied on customer-oriented selling, personalized interaction, advisory engagement, cross-selling practices, as well as structured CRM systems to strengthen customer retention and deepen service usage. Relationship management practices improved performance by maintaining customer loyalty, curbing switching behaviour, and increasing lifetime value of customers. Evidence further indicated that sales success emerged when customer engagement was supported by continuous relationship management rather than isolated selling efforts. The study concluded that banking sales performance improved when customer-centric selling operated alongside integrated relationship management practices that sustained long-term customer interaction.

DIGITAL FINANCE IMPACTS ON POVERTY, FINANCIAL EXCLUSION, INCOME, EMPLOYMENT, AND ACCESS AMONG VULNERABLE GROUPS IN NIGERIA

2026-04-23T12:41:53+00:00

This study examines the impact of digital finance on poverty reduction, financial exclusion, income generation, employment, and access to financial services among vulnerable groups in Abuja, Nigeria. Employing a mixed-methods research design, primary data were collected from 385 households through structured questionnaires, complemented by qualitative interviews with policymakers, financial service providers, and community leaders. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to explore the determinants of digital finance adoption, barriers to usage, and associated socio-economic outcomes. The findings indicate that digital literacy, access to infrastructure, education, and trust in financial institutions significantly increase the likelihood of adopting digital financial services, which in turn improves employment opportunities, income, and access to financial services. Conversely, regulatory constraints, low trust, high perceived costs, and structural inequalities hinder adoption and exacerbate financial exclusion, particularly among low-income households, women, youth, and informal-sector workers. The study underscores the multidimensional nature of financial inclusion and highlights that digital finance alone is insufficient to eradicate poverty without complementary interventions such as digital literacy programs, infrastructure development, and targeted support for vulnerable populations. The results provide empirical evidence for policymakers and financial institutions seeking to design inclusive digital finance strategies that promote equitable socio-economic development in Nigeria.

SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM IN THE WORKPLACE: IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WORKERS’ AUTONOMY

2026-05-08T16:10:49+00:00

The increasing integration of digital monitoring technologies into organizational systems has raised critical concerns about their implications for employee well-being and control, prompting this paper on Surveillance Capitalism in the Workplace: Implications for Mental Health and Workers’ Autonomy. The paper examined the extent to which workplace surveillance practices influence employees’ mental health outcomes, evaluates how surveillance-driven management systems affect worker autonomy, and investigates the relationship between surveillance practices and employees’ perceptions of privacy, trust, and organizational fairness. The paper was anchored on Labour Process Theory which explains how managerial control is embedded within technological systems to regulate labour. An analytical review approach was adopted, involving critical synthesis and evaluation of recent empirical and theoretical studies published between 2020 and 2026. The findings revealed that intensified workplace surveillance is associated with increased stress, anxiety, and burnout due to continuous monitoring and performance pressure. It further showed that algorithmic management systems significantly reduce worker autonomy by limiting discretion over tasks and decision-making processes. In addition, the paper established that surveillance practices negatively shape employees’ perceptions of privacy, trust, and fairness, particularly in contexts with weak regulatory protections. The paper concluded that while surveillance technologies may enhance efficiency, their unchecked use undermines worker well-being and organizational relations. It therefore recommended the adoption of transparent monitoring policies, integration of mental health support systems, and strengthening of regulatory frameworks to protect employees’ rights and autonomy.

GLOBAL WORKPLACE POLITICAL RISK AND ITS HR IMPLICATIONS: INSIGHTS FROM CROSS-NATIONAL SURVEYS.

2026-04-28T10:41:49+00:00

Political risk has become an increasingly important feature of contemporary work environment, influencing Organisational stability and employee experiences. This paper examines how workplace political risk is manifested within organisations and how it affects employee attitudes, behaviours, and well-being; this was done by drawing on evidence from cross national survey studies. The seminar adopted a desk-based review approach to synthesize findings from different countries and sectors. The seminar shows that politicised work environments are commonly associated with lower job satisfaction and commitment, higher turnover intentions, and the emergence of counterproductive work behaviours. The seminar further highlights the moderating role of human resources systems and leadership practices in shaping how political risk is perceived and managed at work. The seminar contributes to a clearer understanding of the strategic role of HR in fostering more resilient, equitable, and sustainable workplaces under conditions of persistent political uncertainty.