BOARD PROFESSIONALISM AND GENDER ON SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING OF LISTED CONSUMER GOOD FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the impact of board professionalism and gender on sustainability reporting of listed consumer good firms in Nigeria over a period of twelve years from 2009-2020. This paper explored board professionalism and gender on sustainability reporting index GRI 2016. The study outsourced data from the annual financial reports of the sampled listed Consumer Good Firms in Nigeria and analyzed using descriptive, correlation and multiple regression. The research uses ex-post factor research design. The study found a positive and significant impact between gender and sustainability reporting while board professionalism has a negative and significant impact on sustainability reporting. This means an increase in number of women on board will lead to an increase in sustainability reporting of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Companies should be encouraged to include or increase the number of women on board to enable them enhance the level of their sustainability reporting. Women are more sensitive to the environment thus their push for more sustainability reporting and also the stock exchange regulator (SEC) should create a policy that will regulate and monitor companies in Nigeria to ensure that they fully implement the disclosure requirements of the corporate governance code and sustainability reporting guidelines.