This edition of NIU Journal of Social Sciences focuses on Development Administration, Social Psychology as well as Business and Entrepreneurship Education.
The first part of the Journal addresses issues in Development Administration such as Foreign Direct Investment, Election Management, Waste Management, Public Accountability, Local Governance and other Public Welfare Services. It is emphasized in one of the papers that there is need for comprehensive electoral reforms, including enhanced voter education, improved transparency, and stricter enforcement of electoral laws to address the problem of lack of confidence in the legitimacy of elected officials and the integrity of election results. This is because it is beliebed that this will foster a more transparent, accountable, and legitimate electoral system, thereby strengthening public trust in the democratic process.
Papers in the second part are on Social Psychology. It is revealed in one of the papers in this section that most of the lifestyles of the students were tailored in line with their favourite celebrities and role models. Also, imitating friends’ dressing styles has become a norm among students due to the confidence it creates and sometimes alters the student’s lifestyle. Hence, the study recommends that universities and related tertiary institutions should regulate the dressing behaviour of students to reflect the ideal standard behaviour after schooling.
In the last section on Business and Entrepreneurship Education, one of the papers reveals that regulatory barrier, such as complex compliance requirements and high costs, present significant obstacles to fintech adoption among SMEs. Furthermore, insufficient technological infrastructure, particularly in terms of reliable internet connectivity and stable electricity supply, limits access to fintech services. The paper therefore recommends future research is recommended to explore fintech adoption patterns across specific industries and investigate the impact of socio-cultural factors on digital financial engagement among SMEs.
