Preface to the Volume 2 Issue 4 of Indian-Pacific Journal of Accounting and Finance
Authors: Popoola Oluwatoyin Muse Johnson 
Published: June 2021

I welcome you to the Volume 2 Issue 4 of Indian-Pacific Journal of Accounting and Finance (IPJAF).

In this Issue 4, all the presentations are international research with emphasis on Islamic financing, entrepreneurship, corporate governance, accounting for small, medium and large enterprises and Islamic banking

In the first paper captioned “Innovation Co-operation Impact on Operations of Small, Medium and Large (SML) Firms: A Malaysia Perspective”, Dr Mohammed Ndaliman Abubakar (Deputy Director Collaborations & Linkages, The Federal Polytechnic Bida, Nigeria), examine how innovation co-operation influences the activities of small, medium and large (SML) firms to become innovative and perform effectively. Using a dataset of a survey study based on Malaysian Innovation Survey (NIS) and European community innovation survey (CIS) reports, a total of 1178 firms cutting across small, medium and large (SML) companies for manufacturing and service firms were examined using an open innovation paradigm in practice to understand the extent of co-operation and collaboration in performing innovation activities. The study data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logic regression model estimation for ease of comprehension. The findings showed that almost all the companies survey were involved in performing one innovation or the other. Furthermore, it reveals that different partnership was sought for co-operation and collaboration in performing their innovations.

In the second paper entitled “Corporate Governance Disclosure: The Evidence from Nigeria”, Abubakar M. Dembo (University of Bedfordshire, UK) study centres on the investigation of the level of compliance with the Nigerian Corporate Governance Code's recommendations by the six selected oil companies from 2004 to 2012. Two stages of compliance level with the Corporate Governance Disclosure Index (CGDI) were developed from 43 specific corporate governance issues based on the Nigerian Code's provisions and analysed. Firstly, the study demonstrates the degree of compliance with the CGDI for the selected companies over the survey period (2004-2012). This allows the testing of the continuous progress of the level of conformity with the Nigerian Code's provisions. Second, it measures the level of compliance with the CGDI that existed over the 2004-2009 and 2010-2012 periods respectively. The motive is to find out whether the level of compliance with corporate governance has increased over the two periods since the creation of the Nigerian Code in late 2003. The findings indicate a remarkable improvement in compliance with the Nigerian Code over the periods by the selected companies. 

In the third paper titled “Sub-Sahara Africa’s (SSA) infrastructure funding gap: Potentials from Sukuk financing”, Dr. Abdulazeez Adewuyi Abdurraheem (Universiti Utara Malaysia) and Prof. Dr. Asmadi Mohamed Naim (Universiti Utara Malaysia), evaluates the depth of utilisation of Islamic capital market using Sukuk instruments as another source of funding to fill the observed funding gap for infrastructure development. The study finds the use of Sukuk as a long-term financing instrument, though still at its infancy stage in the region. The paper, therefore, suggests that the SSA countries can undertake rapid and massive infrastructure developments in the area through the use of Sukuk instruments, thereby eliminating increasing sovereign debt over-hang from the conventional debt market. Their study recommends that policymakers in the region put in place required laws and regulations that will provide enabling environments for effective utilisation of Sukuk instruments for infrastructural development. Similarly, they canvass strong political will on the part of the region’s political leaders as an essential ally in nurturing strong institutions, which they argue can engender policy continuity to ensure effective and efficient management of infrastructure projects funded by Sukuk instruments.

In the fourth paper entitled “Effectuation Approach in Accessing Entrepreneurial Education Significance on Students’ Entrepreneurial Intention”, Ayotunde Adetola Adelaja (Universiti Utara Malaysia), Modile Adekunle Umar (Universiti Malaysia Perlis), Mike Terkuma Soomiyol (Universiti Utara Malaysia), Iliyasu Shiyanbade Najeemdeen (Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin), and Bello Taofik Abidemi (Universiti Utara Malaysia) assess the practical significance of entrepreneurial education in enhancing students’ entrepreneurial intention. They also examine the students’ perceived importance of access to finance as a determining factor to entrepreneurship, and the moderating effect of financial access on the relationship between entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial intention. An online survey via google form was sent out to UUM students who have at one time has entrepreneurial education exposure. The study respondents include international and local levels of both postgraduate and undergraduate students. 250 students completed the online survey within one month. The data collected were analysed using IBM SPSS version 23 with pre-installed process macro developed by Hayes (2013). The findings reveal that both entrepreneurial education and access to finance contributes significantly to their entrepreneurial intention. However, the students perceive access to finance as a causal factor to entrepreneurial intention rather than an effectuation factor. Hence, the education offered can be argued to have more of managerial implications rather than entrepreneurial consequences.

In the fifth paper titled “Task performance and Skills in IR 4.0: The moderating effect of Attitude”, Dr. Oluwatoyin Muse Johnson Popoola (Universiti Utara Malaysia), Prof. Dr. Ayoib Che Ahmad (Universiti Utara Malaysia), Dr. Rachael Oluyemisi Arowolo (Chrisland University, Nigeria), and Dr. Mazrah Malek (Universiti Utara Malaysia) examine the moderating impact of attitude (ATT) on skills (SK) and task performance fraud risk assessment (TPFRA) of professional accountants conceptually. This study possesses the capacity to impact the ethical, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework. Furthermore, the study possesses the abilities to persuade the efficient and effective policy formulations and enhance capacity building of the workforce in the public sector. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this may perhaps be the first conceptual study on the accountant's attitude as an indispensable capability requirement for skills and task performance fraud risk assessment in the specific working environment.

The IPJAF existence is anchored on the service and dedication of its editorial board, the editorial team, and authors. I firmly believe that in the coming year, 2019, the vision of IPJAF to publish high-quality manuscripts within the scope of IPJAF from academic and professional researchers will be continually maintained and acknowledged.

As you read through this Vol. 2 Issue 4 of IPJAF, I would like to appreciate you profoundly for your participation in submitting high-quality papers for review and publication in IPJAF. Notwithstanding the success so far recorded, I implore you and your colleagues, friends and associates to continue to partner with IPJAF by submitting quality research and policy papers within our scope for publication.

I assure our prospective authors, regardless of the acceptance of your manuscripts or not, to continue to enjoy the benefits IPJAF provides about our review process, which offers high quality and helpful reviews tailored to assist authors in improving their manuscripts. In conclusion, I acknowledge your support as you, and I work hard to make IPJAF the most authoritative journal on accounting and finance for the community of academic, professional, industry, society and government.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued interest, support and patronages to IPJAF in 2018, while looking forward to more beneficial relationships in 2019.