http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/352 This sub-community contains all Masters thesis of the five streams offered at AUST 2026-04-09T10:31:40Z http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/5203 Technology Policy and Sustainable Start-Up Ecosystems: A Comparative Study of Nigeria and India Abiola, Jimoh Ridwan This study compares technology policies and sustainable start-up ecosystems in Nigeria and India. It examines legal frameworks, government initiatives, funding mechanisms, and implementation challenges in both countries. Nigeria relies mainly on the Nigeria Start-up Act 2022, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act. India uses the Start-up India Action Plan 2016, the National Digital Communication Policy, and the Companies Act 2013, supported by a more mature and integrated system. The research uses a mixed-method approach: doctrinal legal analysis of 52 policy documents and a descriptive survey of 118 stakeholders from both countries. Findings show that India has a stronger, more sustainable ecosystem with better coordination, larger funding flows, and more supportive regulations. Nigeria faces major barriers including poor infrastructure, limited access to capital, bureaucratic delays, and low awareness of the Start-up Act. Stakeholders strongly support public-private partnerships, improved venture capital access, targeted policy reforms, and collaboration with research institutions to build a more sustainable ecosystem in Nigeria. Lessons from India highlight the value of long-term policy consistency, strong digital infrastructure, and effective funding structures. The study concludes that while Nigeria has progressive laws, faster implementation, better coordination, and infrastructure improvements are essential for a thriving and sustainable start-up ecosystem. Recommendations focus on central coordination, state-level adoption of the Start-up Act, expanded funding vehicles, and stronger public-private collaboration. 2026-01-15T00:00:00Z http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/5173 International Trade Optimisation and Multilateral Trade Agreements in Africa: A Case Study of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in Nigeria Afolayan, Victoria Ebunutale The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program had a great and promising start, and the first decade witnessed a spike in export and job opportunities for Nigerians and Sub-Saharan Africans until the fall in trade occurred during the second decade. As a policy solution, African policymakers consider the implementation of Trade policy remedies as critical for trade optimization and to support the existing tariff-free trade agreements. Unfortunately, the fall in trade for Nigeria persisted amidst offers for trade optimization to help mobilize resources for active trade engagement and revitalize its dwindling and underproductive trade programs. Similarly, the existing trade agreements do not sufficiently reflect the contributions of trade mechanisms in business development and economic growth due to several reasons. While Nigeria has benefited from the trade program, the impact on the volume of trade in Nigeria after 24 years remains an illusion that should be unraveled. This study is in three parts. The first part presents an overview of the African Growth and opportunity Acts (AGOA) and assesses AGOA’s performance based on certain key performance indicators. The second part examines AGOA trade preferences trade agreements (PTA), and evaluates the extent trade optimization strategies have helped to reposition multilateral trade agreements, increase trade and optimize international trade benefits. In the third part, existing policy-based strategies or initiative were assessed, and the inclusion and integration of unilateral trade preferences in existing multilateral or preferential trade agreements (MTA/PTA) investigated. The extent the trade policy remedies have affected MTA/PTA and trade in Nigeria was examined using a qualitative approach. Overall, the study reviews and discusses critical research and policy frameworks and examines the relevance of policy remedies based on primary data collected through the distribution of questionnaires. In this study, a combined purposive and snowball sampling method were used to collect data and the findings described using non-numerical features. Also, the multiple case study approach was adopted to assess the impact of AGOA trade on several socioeconomic indexes (volume of trade and trade balance, etc.). For data gathering, thirty (30) questionnaires were distributed across four organizations, which includes the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), FMITI Multilateral Trade Division (AGOA Branch), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) and FMITI Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) Divisions. The questionnaires were iii administered by representatives of the organizations assigned by the researcher and staff of the organization. Based on the study, three research questions were examined and the research hypotheses tested using both primary and secondary data gathered from open-ended questions as opinions, views and perspectives. The study shows that AGOA trade increases market capacity, leads to market expansion and business development. However, several internal and external limitations to trade undermine the substantial impact of trade on the volume of trade and economic growth, and as such, trade accountability is critical for strengthening trade agreement, trade optimisation and full implementation of trade policy to guarantee trade mutual benefits. Also, the study reveals that trade legislations are potent, but the current trade legislations cannot guarantee mutual participation of Nigeria in AGOA and AfCFTA trade programs due to weak institutions and poor implementation of trade policies which undermines the contributions of existing trade agreements. While the study showed that AGOA trade program was faulted, trade experts and stakeholders are confident the trade bottlenecks can be addressed by leveraging AGOA’s contributions to trade in repositioning the Nigerian market. Hence, the study suggests the need for a result-driven review of national trade policies to accommodate trade optimisation strategies offered by AfCFTA, and to support economic growth which has remained elusive over the years. In addition to trade policy review, major causes of incessant policy failure in Nigeria should be identified and jettisoned to ensure economic dependence. Overall, the study is a useful document for the review of AGOA’s conditions by Nigeria government to decide if its current trade policy postures fit into the AGOA’s framework and current realities. 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/5171 Project Administration and Procurement Procedure for Development in Nigeria: A Comparative Assessment of Different Sectors Ademilua, Olufemi Frank The document investigates Nigeria’s procurement process and the reasons behind project failures, particularly in the education, agriculture, and technology sectors. Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act of 2007, aimed at promoting transparency and efficiency, established the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP). Despite these reforms, challenges persist, evidenced by numerous abandoned projects across federal ministries. The study examines the influence of procurement methods on project outcomes, identifying competitive and selective procurement as the most common methods in failed projects. Additionally, it explores political interference, inadequate budgeting, and poor contractor selection as key factors contributing to these failures. This research adopts a quantitative approach, analyzing federal government projects in Nigeria's education, science and technology, and agricultural ministries from 2016 to 2023. By examining data on uncompleted projects, it identifies trends, and the recurring issues associated with each procurement method. The study aims to provide insights into the procurement types predominantly linked to failures, with recommendations for improving project completion rates through a more rigorous application of procurement standards, transparency measures, and accountability mechanisms. This research contributes to policy discussions on enhancing public procurement in Nigeria to foster sustainable development and efficient public service delivery. Public Administration thesis. 2024-07-14T00:00:00Z http://repository.aust.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/5170 Multilateral Funding Policies and Private Sector Participation: A Study of the African Union Peace Fund in Nigeria Ngwoke, Samuel Uchenna This study examined the African Union (AU) Peace Fund in Nigeria, exploring its alignment with Multilateral Funding Policies and the role of Private Sector Participation. It assessed multilateral peace funds, reviewed the activities of the 2016 AU Peace Fund, and investigated reasons for the apparent lack of engagement from Nigeria’s Organized Private Sector in supporting the AU Peace Fund. Multilateral organizations aim to foster societal peace, yet the AU Peace Fund, a critical element of the African Peace and Security Architecture, has struggled to fulfill this objective. Efforts to revitalize the Fund led to the 2016 Silencing the Guns policy, which recommended private sector involvement. However, the Fragile States Index (FSI) continues to show African countries as highly fragile. The study adopted a mixed-method approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Data collection involved literature reviews, structured online questionnaires, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), guided by the Policy Design Process Theoretical Framework. Findings revealed minimal engagement and low awareness of the AU Peace Fund among Nigeria’s Organized Private Sector, with 97% of respondents and their organizations unaware of the Fund and not consulted in the policy design process related to Silencing the Guns. Based on these findings, the study recommends an overhaul of the AU’s policy development process to better incorporate the private sector, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of its peace and security initiatives. A comprehensive policy review, with active involvement from the Organized Private Sector in Nigeria, is also advised to align with international best practices and foster a more inclusive and sustainable approach to regional peacebuilding. 2024-11-20T00:00:00Z