Corporate governance and value creation of deposit money banks in Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined corporate governance and value creation of deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria. Resource-Based View (RBV)was the theoretical underpinning. The proxies for corporate governance are board size, board composition and audit committee. Understanding these governance attributes provides valuable insights into how firms manage and potentially improve their value. Return on assets is the proxy for value creation. Secondary data from 2013 to 2023 were obtained from the annual reports of five (5) DBMs selected through a purposive sampling technique. The study adopted Unit Root test, Johansen’s Cointegration test and Error Correction Model for the analysis. The major findings of the study revealed that there is a positive and significant effect board composition on return on assets of deposit money banks in Nigeria while a negative and insignificant influence exist between board size and audit committee on return on assets. Hence, the study underscores that an improved board composition as a governance attribute enhances transparency and oversight functions. This directly and positively influence value creation in deposit money banks in Nigeria. Conversely, increase in board size and audit committee has negative and insignificant influence on value creation. The study recommends that DMBs should focus on board quality rather than just size and audit committee because a well composed board with a mix of strong leadership skills, diverse expertise, gender and professional diversity, and strategic governance practices will enhance sustainable shareholders’ value creation.
Downloads
References
Adegbite, E. (2015). Good corporate governance in Nigeria: Antecedents, propositions, and peculiarities. International Business Review, 24(2), 319–330. Doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2014.08.004
Adewuyi, A. W., &Olowookere, E. T. (2021). Board diversity and firm value: Evidence from Nigerian banks. African Journal of Economic Policy, 28(2), 45–68.
Al‐Shaer, H., & Zaman, M. (2018). Credibility of sustainability reports: The contribution of audit committees. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(7), 1141–1155. Doi.org/10.1002/bse.2066
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. Doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Carter, D. A., Simkins, B. J., & Simpson, W. G. (2010). Corporate governance, board diversity, and firm value. Financial Review, 38(1), 33–53. Doi.org/10.1111/1540-6288.00034
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Update, (2024). Cardoso unveils strategic reforms to revitalise Nigeria's economy. Central Bank of Nigeria CBN 6(12) December, 2024.
CBN. (2014). Code of corporate governance for banks and discount houses in Nigeria. CBNhttps://www.cbn.gov.ng/out/2014/pdf
CBN, (2019). CBN annual report 2019. CBN. https://www.cbn.gov.ng/Out/2020/RSD/CBN%202019%20ANNUAL%20REPORT-FINAL.pdf
Coles, J. L., Daniel, N. D., & Naveen, L. (2008). Boards: Does one size fit all? Journal of Financial Economics, 87(2), 329–356. Doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2007.03.004
Ezejiofor, R. A., John-Akamelu, R. C., &Chigbo, A. (2017). The impact of corporate governance on risk management in Nigerian banking sector. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 7(2), 117–130. Doi.org/10.6007/IJARAFMS/v7-i2/2931
Ibrahim, M., & AbdulSamad, F. (2019). Corporate governance attributes and firm value: Evidence from Nigerian banks. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 9(2), 23–30.
Kavadis, N., Hermes, N., Oehmichen, J., Zattoni, A., &Fainshmidt, S. (2024). Sustainable value creation in multinational enterprises: The role of corporate governance actors. Journal of World Business, 59(1), 101503. Doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2023.101503
Korolo, E. O. (2023). Corporate governance attributes and financial performance of listed industrial goods companies in Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research [FUJAFR], 1(3), 40-51. Doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2023.v1i3.55.40-51
Ofoegbu, G. N., Odoemelam, N., & Okafor, R. G. (2018). Corporate board characteristics and financial performance of Nigerian banks. Journal of Accounting and Taxation, 10(1), 1–10. Doi.org/10.5897/JAT2017.0291
Ojukwu, C. O. (2011). External auditors’ role in corporate governance and performance of banks in Nigeria. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master's thesis]. University of Port Harcourt.
Okoye, E., Okoye, P., &Adetoso, A. (2021). The impact of corporate governance reforms on banking sector performance in Nigeria. African Journal of Accounting and Finance, 13(4), 287–305.
Olayiwola, W. K. (2018). Corporate governance and banks’ performance in Nigeria: A panel data analysis. Journal of Economics and Business, 70(1), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconbus.2018.02.003
Omoregie, P., &Kelikume, I. (2020). The impact of board characteristics on firm performance: Evidence from Nigerian banks. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 20(5), 903–921. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-05-2019-0163
Peter, D. D., Shido-Ikwu, S. B., Stephen, E., & Abel, D. Z. (2022). Corporate governance mechanisms and financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. Global Research Journal of Accounting and Finance, 2(2), 100.
Pratama, K. J. (2025). Advancing futuristic digital banking: Strategic enhancement and a roadmap for excellence. Journal of Central Banking Law and Institutions, 4 (1), 113 – 140
Sanusi, L. S. (2010). The Nigerian banking industry: What went wrong and the way forward. Convocation Lecture Delivered at Bayero University, Kano.
Umoh, E. (2025). The Impact of Corporate Governance on Financial Reporting Quality: Evidence from Nigerian Manufacturing Firms (2014-2023). (March 07, 2025). Doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5172407
Uwuigbe, O. R., Olusanmi, O., &Fakile, A. (2020). Corporate governance and risk-taking in Nigerian banks. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 13(5), 100. Doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13050100
Vig, S., & Datta, M. (2018). Corporate governance and value creation: A study of selected Indian companies. International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 17(3), 259-282. Doi.org/10.1504/IJICBM.2018.094582
Villanueva-Villar, M., Rivo-López, E., & Lago-Penas, S. (2016). On the relationship between corporate governance and value creation in an economic crisis: Empirical evidence for the Spanish case. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 19(4), 233-245.
Yahaya, K. A., & Lawal, A. I. (2018). Effect of corporate governance on financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. International Journal of Economic Development Research and Investment, 9(1), 15–28.
Yermack, D. (1996). Higher market valuation of companies with a small board of directors. Journal of Financial Economics, 40(2), 185–211. Doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(95)00844-
Zgarni, I., Halioui, K., & Zehri, F. (2018). Do audit committee characteristics affect financial reporting quality? International Business and Finance, 44, 1–15. Doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2017.07.035
The authors and co-authors warrant that the article is their original work, does not infringe any copyright, and has not been published elsewhere. By submitting the article to GPH-International Journal of Business Management, the authors agree that the journal has the right to retract or remove the article in case of proven ethical misconduct.