Commerce Waec Syllabus

1. INTRODUCTION
   • Meaning, scope and functions of Commerce.
   • History of Commerce.
2. OCCUPATIONS
   • Types – Industry, Commerce
   • Direct and Indirect Services
3. PRODUCTION
   • Definition and factors of production
   • Primary, secondary and tertiary production.
   • Inter-relationship between production and exchange.
4. BUSINESS UNITS
   • Meaning and objectives of a business.
   • Forms of Business Units – Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Public and Private Limited Liability Companies, Public Enterprises and Cooperative Societies;
   • Formation, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages;
   • Dissolution/liquidation
5. BUSINESS CAPITAL AND PROFITS
   • Meaning and types – authorized/registered/nominal/issued capital, called-up, paid up, capital owned, capital borrowed, liquid/circulating capital;
   • Calculation of working capital, the importance of working capital;
   • Profit – meaning, types and calculation of profits;
   • Turnover – meaning and calculation.
6. TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
   • Aims and functions of trade associations;
   • Chamber of Commerce, Employers’ Association, Consumer Association, and Manufacturers’ Association: Aims and Functions.
7. TRADE
   • Purpose and branches of trade
   • Home Trade and Foreign Trade.
8. HOME TRADE
   • Retail Trade
     • Functions of the Retailer and Factors to Consider in Starting a Retail Business.
     • Small-scale and large-scale retailing.
     • Types of Retail outlets and the main characteristics of each.
     • Trends in Retailing – branding, after-sales service, self-service, vending machines, luncheon and fuel vouchers.
   • Wholesale Trade
     • Functions of the wholesaler.
     • Types of wholesalers
     • Merchant and Agent wholesalers.
   • Warehousing
     • Importance, functions and types of warehouses
   • Forces making for the elimination and survival of the middleman
   • Channels of Distribution
     • Producer – Wholesaler – Retailer – Consumer.
     • Factors for the choice of the channels.
9. FOREIGN TRADE
   • Basic concepts in International Trade
     • Terms of trade
     • balance of trade
     • balance of payment
     • counter trade
   • Export, Import and Entrepot
     • Procedures and documents used.
     • Visible and invisible trade.
   • Barriers to International Trade
   • Functions of Ports Authority
     • Customs and Excise Authority, Customs,
     • Excise and Preventive Services and shipping, clearing and forwarding
     • Agents
     • Export Promotion Council
10. PURCHASE AND SALE OF GOODS
    • Procedures and documents
    • Terms of Trade
      • Trade Discount
      • Cash discount
      • Quantity discount
      • C.O.D.
      • C.I.F.
      • F. O. B.,
      • E. and O.E.
    • Terms of payment
      • Cash, hire purchase and deferred payment
    • Means of payment
      • Legal tender
      • cheques
      • standing order
      • bank drafts
      • stamps
      • postal orders
      • money orders
      • bills of exchange and
      • promissory notes.
11. FINANCE AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
    • MONEY
      • Meaning, forms, qualities and functions.
    • BANKS
      • Types of Banks – Central Bank, Commercial Banks and other specialized banks and their features and functions.
      • Types of accounts – current, savings and fixed deposit accounts, and their main features.
    • INSURANCE
      • Meaning and basic principles of insurance – utmost good faith, insurable interest, contribution, indemnity and proximate cause.
    • TYPES OF INSURANCE
      • Fire, personal accident, marine, life and endowment, burglary, and insurable and uninsurable risks.
      • The importance of insurance to businesses and individuals.
      • Procedure for taking an insurance policy.
    • STOCK EXCHANGE
      • Meaning and functions, procedures of transactions, and speculations.
      • Types of securities.
    • CREDIT
      • Meaning, types, and functions.
    • CREDIT UNIONS AND THRIFT SOCIETIES
      • Meaning and aims
      • functions and services provided to members.
12. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
    • TRANSPORT
      • Meaning and importance
      • Forms of Transport – Land, water, air and pipeline.
        Advantages and disadvantages of each form.
      • Functions of Seaports and Airports.
    • COMMUNICATION
      • Meaning, importance and services of Post Office, Courier Agencies and other communication agents.
13. INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING
    • MARKETING
      • Meaning, importance and functions;
      • The marketing concept, the marketing mix (4p’s), market segmentation, and consumer sovereignty
    • ADVERTISING
      • Meaning, role, types and media
      • Advantages and disadvantages.
    • PUBLIC RELATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICES
      • Meaning and importance.
    • SALES PROMOTION
      • Trade fairs, exhibitions, gifts, and demonstrations.
    • PERSONAL SELLING
      • Meaning and uses.
14. LEGAL ASPECTS OF BUSINESS
    • Legal Issues
      • Areas of law that relate to business
        • Contract
        • Agency
        • Sale of Goods Act
        • Hire Purchase Act
        • Trade Description Act.
      • Rights and obligations of employer and employee
      • Government regulation of business
        • Registration of business
        • patents
        • trademarks and
        • copyrights.
    • CONSUMER PROTECTION
      • Need for protection
      • Means of protection
        • Government legislation
        • Food and Drugs Act
        • Standard Organisation Act
        • Trade Description Act
        • Consumer Association
        • Price Control
        • Product Quality
        • Factory Shops and Offices Acts, etc.
15. NATIONALISATION AND INDIGENISATION/DIVESTITURE
    • Meaning and Aims
    • Advantages and Disadvantages
16. ECONOMIC GROUPINGS
    • ECOWAS
    • Niger Basin Commission (NBC)
    • Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)
    • Mano River Union
    • European Economic Community (EEC)
    • African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
    • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
    • International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
    • Objectives and Obstacles of Each.

SUGGESTED READING LIST

1. Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools by Odedokun, Udokogu and Ogiyi – Longman Nigeria Publications.
2. Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools by CESAC, Shanelson Publishers, Ibadan.
3. Modern Commercial Knowledge by L. W. T. Stafford.
4. Marketing by G. B. Giles.
5. Basic Marketing by Jerome McCarthy.