Corporate Sustainability and Shareholders’ Wealth in the National Financial Sector

Abstract

The desire of every shareholder is to see that shareholders’ wealth is given strategic central point attention far and above other priorities of the management. Prior studies have shown that meeting shareholders’ wealth expectations in Nigeria is complex and full of challenges considering the infrastructural deficits, security challenges and lack of corporate legitimacy capable of enhancing shareholders’ wealth in the country. In addition, effective sustainability performance has been advanced as capable of improving corporate performance and increasing shareholders’ wealth. In contributing to knowledge, this study looked at how corporate sustainability affected shareholders' wealth in Nigeria's national banking industry. Using an <i>ex-post facto</i> research design, the study employed secondary data extracted from selected financial institutions from banking institutions. A total of 15 financial institutions were chosen using a purposive sample technique during a 15-year period, from 2008 to 2022, from the population of 65 financial institutions listed in Nigeria. The certification by the external auditors served as the foundation for the data's dependability and authenticity. Inferential (multiple regression) analysis was employed using a pooled panel data analysis. The result showed that corporate sustainability exerted a significant effect on shareholders’ wealth (<i>Adj. R2</i> = 0.7474, <i>F-stat/Wald test</i> (4, 220) = 18.30, <i>p </i>< 0.05). The study concluded that corporate sustainability had a positive and significant effect on shareholders’ wealth in the national financial sector in Nigeria. Consequent to the results, managers should ensure that effective corporate sustainability policies are instituted and practised in their companies.